The time course of off-line motor sequence learning

Brain Res Cogn Brain Res. 2005 Sep;25(1):375-8. doi: 10.1016/j.cogbrainres.2005.05.010.

Abstract

The acquisition of motor skill occurs with practice, but skill can also increase between sessions, a process termed "off-line learning". Here, we investigated the amount of time required for the off-line development of skills. Participants were tested on an implicit version of the Serial Reaction Time Task and re-tested 1, 4 or 12 h later. Only those re-tested 4 h or 12 h after initial testing showed off-line improvements. This demonstrates that implicitly acquired skills can increase between sessions and the process occurs over hours.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Learning / physiology*
  • Male
  • Motor Skills / physiology*
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Reaction Time / physiology*
  • Time Factors