Uncovering the drivers of human sensorimotor learning: EEG oscillatory manifestations of error, repetition and reward processing.

揭示人类感觉运动学习的驱动因素：错误、重复和奖励处理的脑电图振荡表现。

• 批准号: RGPIN-2019-05786
• 负责人: Bernier, PierreMichel
• 金额: $ 3.64万
• 依托单位: Université de Sherbrooke
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=715001
• 关键词: Uncovering; drivers; human; sensorimotor; learning

Sensorimotor learning is at the heart of humans' capacity to acquire and maintain efficient motor behaviour across the lifespan. Computational modeling work has highlighted the contributions of sensory prediction errors and target errors to the acquisition of a new motor behaviour, as well as the contributions of movement repetitions and rewards to the long-term retention of motor memories. Still, there remains an important gap in our understanding of how these processes manifest in the brain, and in particular how functional interactions between brain regions change during learning. In this light, the long-term objective of my research is to study learning-related neuroplasticity at the systems levels within the human sensorimotor network. Interestingly, there is growing evidence that rhythmic brain activity plays a key role in computations involved in learning and plasticity. Specifically, neural oscillations in the theta-band (3-7 Hz) have been shown to be modulated by sensory prediction errors and target errors, whereas oscillations in the beta-band (15-30 Hz) have been shown to be modulated by movement repetitions and rewards. The short-term objective of my program is to test the hypothesis that theta and beta oscillations instantiate functional communication in distinct brain networks mediating errors vs. repetitions and rewards, with the important implication that they respectively relate to acquisition and retention of motor behaviours. In Theme 1, experiments will test the hypothesis that theta-band oscillations i) covary with the size of sensory prediction errors, ii) causally relate to acquisition of a new motor behaviour, and iii) depend upon the cerebellum. In Theme 2, experiments will test the hypothesis that beta-band oscillations i) reflect the degree of plasticity induced by repetitions and rewards, ii) causally relate to retention of a new motor behaviour, and iii) are modulated by sensory prediction errors. A key element is to bridge the gap between brain and behaviour, relating neural responses incurred by errors, repetitions and rewards to rates of acquisition and retention of motor memories. Paradigms of visuomotor adaptation of goal-directed reaching movements will be used while electroencephalography (EEG) is recorded. To establish a causal link between neural responses and motor behaviour, non-invasive brain stimulation techniques will be used to influence cortical activity, including single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), repetitive TMS (rTMS) and transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). At a time where we are garnering the tools to alter neural rhythms in a circumscribed manner through non-invasive neuromodulatory interventions, there is a need for fundamental research to provide reliable biomarkers of known mediators of learning. The present research looks to fill that gap, with the ultimate hope of optimizing motor learning and performance in both healthy and brain-injured populations.

感觉运动学习是人类在一生中获得和保持有效运动行为能力的核心。计算建模工作强调了感觉预测错误和目标错误对获得新的运动行为的贡献，以及运动重复和奖励对运动记忆长期保留的贡献。尽管如此，我们对这些过程如何在大脑中表现出来的理解，特别是在学习过程中大脑区域之间的功能相互作用是如何变化的，仍然存在一个重要的空白。有鉴于此，我研究的长期目标是在人类感觉运动网络的系统水平上研究与学习相关的神经可塑性。