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Observation learning versus physical practice leads to different consolidation outcomes in a movement timing task

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Abstract

Motor learning is a process that extends beyond training sessions. Specifically, physical practice triggers a series of physiological changes in the CNS that are regrouped under the term “consolidation” (Stickgold and Walker 2007). These changes can result in between-session improvement or performance stabilization (Walker 2005). In a series of three experiments, we tested whether consolidation also occurs following observation. In Experiment 1, participants observed an expert model perform a sequence of arm movements. Although we found evidence of observation learning, no significant difference was revealed between participants asked to reproduce the observed sequence either 5 min or 24 h later (no between-session improvement). In Experiment 2, two groups of participants observed an expert model perform two distinct movement sequences (A and B) either 10 min or 8 h apart; participants then physically performed both sequences after a 24-h break. Participants in the 8-h group performed Sequence B less accurately compared to participants in the 5-min group, suggesting that the memory representation of the first sequence had been stabilized and that it interfered with the learning of the second sequence. Finally, in Experiment 3, the initial observation phase was replaced by a physical practice phase. In contrast with the results of Experiment 2, participants in the 8-h group performed Sequence B significantly more accurately compared to participants in the 5-min group. Together, our results suggest that the memory representation of a skill learned through observation undergoes consolidation. However, consolidation of an observed motor skill leads to distinct behavioural outcomes in comparison with physical practice.

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Notes

  1. \( AE = \sum {{\frac{{\left| {x_{i - 1200} } \right|}}{n}}} \) where x i is the total movement time on trial i and n is the total number of sequences executed.

  2. \( VE = \sqrt {\sum {{\frac{{\left( {x_{i} - M} \right)^{2} }}{n}}} } \) where x i is the total movement time on trial i, M is the mean total movement time, and n is the total number of sequences executed.

  3. \( RMSE = \sqrt {{\frac{{\sum {\left( {\frac{yi}{TMT} - 0.25} \right)} }}{4}}} \) where y i is the movement time of segment i and TMT is the total movement time of the trial.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a Discovery grant (L.P.) and a scholarship (M. T.) provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

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  1. Département de kinésiologie, Université de Montréal, 2100 Boul. Édouard Montpetit, Montréal, QUÉBEC, H3T 1J4, Canada

    Maxime Trempe, Maxime Sabourin, Hassan Rohbanfard & Luc Proteau

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  1. Maxime Trempe
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  2. Maxime Sabourin
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  3. Hassan Rohbanfard
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  4. Luc Proteau
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Correspondence to Luc Proteau.

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Trempe, M., Sabourin, M., Rohbanfard, H. et al. Observation learning versus physical practice leads to different consolidation outcomes in a movement timing task. Exp Brain Res 209, 181–192 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-011-2540-3

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