Previous studies have shown that reinforcement-based motor learning requires the brain to process feedback-related information after movement execution. However, whether reinforcement feedback changes how the brain processes motor preparation before movement execution is unclear. By using electroencephalography (EEG), this study investigates whether reinforcement feedback changes cortical preparatory activity to modulate motor learning and memory. Human subjects were divided in three groups [reward, punishment, control] to perform a visuomotor rotation task under different conditions that assess adaptation (learning) and retention (memory) during the task. Reinforcement feedback was provided in the form of points after each trial that signaled monetary gains (reward) or losses (punishment). EEG was utilized to evaluate the amplitude of movement readiness potentials (MRPs) at the beginning of each trial for each group during the adaptation and retention conditions of the task. The results show that punishment feedback significantly decreased MRPs amplitude during both task conditions compared to Reward and Control groups. Moreover, the punishment-related decrease in MRPs amplitude paralleled decreases in motor performance during the retention but not the adaptation condition. No changes in MRPs or motor performance were observed in the Reward group. These results support the idea that reinforcement feedback modulates motor preparation and suggest that changes in cortical preparatory activity contribute to the visuomotor retention deficits observed after punishment feedback.

先前的研究表明，基于强化的运动学习需要大脑在运动执行后处理与反馈相关的信息。然而，强化反馈是否会改变大脑在运动执行前处理运动准备的方式尚不清楚。通过使用脑电图 (EEG)，这项研究调查了强化反馈是否会改变皮层准备活动以调节运动学习和记忆。人类受试者被分为三组 [奖励、惩罚、控制]，以在不同条件下执行视觉运动旋转任务，评估任务期间的适应（学习）和保留（记忆）。强化反馈在每次试验后以分数的形式提供，表明金钱收益（奖励）或损失（惩罚）。在任务的适应和保留条件期间，脑电图用于评估每组每次试验开始时的运动准备电位 (MRP) 的幅度。结果表明，与奖励组和对照组相比，惩罚反馈在两种任务条件下都显着降低了 MRP 幅度。此外，与惩罚相关的 MRP 幅度下降与保留期间运动表现的下降平行，但与适应条件无关。在奖励组中没有观察到 MRP 或运动表现的变化。这些结果支持强化反馈调节运动准备的观点，并表明皮质准备活动的变化有助于在惩罚反馈后观察到的视觉运动保留缺陷。