Motor Planning, Not Execution, Separates Motor Memories
Publication Date
2016-11-23Journal Title
Neuron
ISSN
0896-6273
Publisher
Elsevier (Cell Press)
Volume
92
Issue
4
Pages
773-779
Language
English
Type
Article
This Version
VoR
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Sheahan, H., Franklin, D., & Wolpert, D. (2016). Motor Planning, Not Execution, Separates Motor Memories. Neuron, 92 (4), 773-779. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2016.10.017
Abstract
Recent theories of limb control emphasize motor cortex as a dynamical system, with planning setting the initial neural state, and execution arising from the self-limiting evolution of the intrinsic neural dynamics. Therefore, movements that share an initial trajectory but then diverge might have different neural states during the execution of the identical initial trajectories. We hypothesized that motor adaptation maps neural states to changes in motor command. This predicts that two opposing perturbations, which interfere when experienced over the same movement, could be learned if each is associated with a different plan even if not executed. We show that planning, but not executing, different follow-through movements allow opposing perturbations to be learned simultaneously over the same movement. However, no learning occurs if different follow throughs are executed, but not planned prior to movement initiation. Our results suggest neural, rather than physical states, are the critical factor associated with motor adaptation.
Sponsorship
We thank the Wellcome Trust, Royal Society (Noreen Murray Professorship in Neurobiology to D.M.W.), the Cambridge Commonwealth, European and International Trusts and the Rutherford Foundation Trust.
Funder references
Wellcome Trust (097803/Z/11/Z)
Embargo Lift Date
2100-01-01
Identifiers
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2016.10.017
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/261624
Rights
Attribution 4.0 International, Attribution 4.0 International, Attribution 4.0 International