Rehearsal strategies during motor-sequence learning in old age: execution vs motor imagery

Perceptual and Motor Skills
Arjan J R StoterTheo Mulder

Abstract

Motor imagery and action-based rehearsal were compared during motor sequence-learning by young adults (M = 25 yr., SD = 3) and aged adults (M = 63 yr., SD = 7). General accuracy of aged adults was lower than that of young adults (F(1,28) = 7.37, p =.01) even though working-memory capacity was equivalent in the two groups. Motor imagery and rehearsal by action increased accuracy in both age groups, compared with minimization of opportunity for rehearsal (F(1,28) = 30.95, p < .001), but no interaction was found with age group, which suggests that young and aged adults were equally capable of motor imagery and action-based rehearsal. It was assumed that differences in performance between young and aged participants related to the formation of mental representations of sequences and integration of new elements into these representations rather than the capacity for motor imagery or rehearsal by action per se. The current study was exploratory and involved a relatively small sample of 15 participants per age group. Caution must be taken when considering the results.

References

Sep 1, 1992·Psychology and Aging·D L Harrington, K Y Haaland
Jan 1, 1990·Annual Review of Neuroscience·M I Posner, S E Petersen
Sep 1, 1987·Psychology and Aging·T A Salthouse
Mar 1, 1982·Journal of Gerontology·T E Ludwig
Jul 1, 1980·Journal of Gerontology·R E SandersK K Walsh
Jan 1, 1993·Experimental Aging Research·K L WitteS Brown-Whistler
Nov 1, 1995·Neuropsychologia·S M KosslynM Jeannerod
Jul 1, 1996·Psychological Review·T A Salthouse
May 1, 1996·Behavioural Brain Research·J Decety
Aug 30, 2002·Trends in Cognitive Sciences·Patricia Reuter-Lorenz
Apr 23, 2003·Neurology·Maria-Felice GhilardiClaude Ghez
Dec 25, 2003·Psychology and Aging·Alan D Castel, Fergus I M Craik
Mar 1, 1995·Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics·M DurkinaD A Powell
Dec 14, 2004·Human Movement Science·Bradley J RhodesMichael P A Page
Mar 4, 2005·Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology·John E Fisk, Charles A Sharp
Jun 9, 2005·Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research : JSLHR·Larry E Humes, Shari S Floyd
Jul 22, 2005·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Sofie HeuninckxStephan P Swinnen
Oct 14, 2005·The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience·Katja StefanJoseph Classen
Jan 1, 1992·Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience·S M Kosslyn, J M Intriligator

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Apr 3, 2012·Cognitive Processing·Christopher R Madan, Anthony Singhal
Oct 17, 2017·Journal of Aging and Physical Activity·Nicolas RobinStephane Sinnapah

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.