Human sensorimotor cortex reactivates recent visuomotor experience during awake rest

Abstract

Previous studies have suggested that awake rest after training is helpful in improving motor performance and memory consolidation in visuomotor learning. Re-emergence of task-related activation patterns during awake rest has been reported, which play a role in memory consolidation or perceptual learning. This study aimed to test whether such reactivation occurs after visuomotor learning in the primary sensorimotor cortex. During fMRI scanning, 42 normal participants learned visuomotor tracking, while a rotational perturbation was introduced between a cursor position and a joystick angle. This visuomotor learning block was interleaved with the control block, during which the participants passively viewed a replay of previously performed cursor movements of their own. Half of the participants used their right hand, and the other half used their left hand to control the joystick. The resting-state scans were measured before and after the visuomotor learning sessions. A multivariate pattern classifier was trained to classify task and control blocks and then tested with resting scans before and after learning. Results revealed a significant increase in the number of volumes classified as the task in the post-learning rest compared with the pre-learning, indicating a re-emergence of task-related activities. Representational similarity analysis also showed a more similar pattern of activity with the task during the post-learning rest period. Furthermore, this effect is specific to the primary sensorimotor cortex contralateral to the hand used and significantly correlated with motor improvement after rest. Our finding revealed the reactivation of task-related patterns in the primary sensorimotor cortex for offline visuomotor learning. Significance StatementPrevious research suggests that awake rest after learning promotes memory consolidation, which is subserved by the re-emergence of task-specific activity patterns. We aimed to determine whether such reactivation occurs in the primary sensorimotor cortex following visuomotor learning for offline memory consolidation. Our results showed a significant increase in task-classified brain volumes during the post-learning rest period compared to the pre-learning period, indicating a re-emergence of task-related activity. Furthermore, this effect was specific to the primary sensorimotor cortex contralateral to the hand used for the task and significantly correlated with the motor performance following the rest period. These findings provide evidence for the reactivation of task-related patterns during offline visuomotor learning, which may underlie memory consolidation processes.