Hebbian priming of human motor learning

Jonas Rud Bjørndal (), Mikkel Malling Beck, Lasse Jespersen, Lasse Christiansen and Jesper Lundbye-Jensen ()
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Jonas Rud Bjørndal: University of Copenhagen
Mikkel Malling Beck: University of Copenhagen
Lasse Jespersen: University of Copenhagen
Lasse Christiansen: Copenhagen University Hospital Amager and Hvidovre
Jesper Lundbye-Jensen: University of Copenhagen

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Abstract Motor learning relies on experience-dependent plasticity in relevant neural circuits. In four experiments, we provide initial evidence and a double-blinded, sham-controlled replication (Experiment I-II) demonstrating that motor learning involving ballistic index finger movements is improved by preceding paired corticospinal-motoneuronal stimulation (PCMS), a human model for exogenous induction of spike-timing-dependent plasticity. Behavioral effects of PCMS targeting corticomotoneuronal (CM) synapses are order- and timing-specific and partially bidirectional (Experiment III). PCMS with a 2 ms inter-arrival interval at CM-synapses enhances learning and increases corticospinal excitability compared to control protocols. Unpaired stimulations did not increase corticospinal excitability (Experiment IV). Our findings demonstrate that non-invasively induced plasticity interacts positively with experience-dependent plasticity to promote motor learning. The effects of PCMS on motor learning approximate Hebbian learning rules, while the effects on corticospinal excitability demonstrate timing-specificity but not bidirectionality. These findings offer a mechanistic rationale to enhance motor practice effects by priming sensorimotor training with individualized PCMS.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49478-5

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