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. 2020 Aug;10(8):e01624.
doi: 10.1002/brb3.1624. Epub 2020 Jun 25.

Altered somatosensory evoked potentials associated with improved reaction time in a simple sensorimotor response task following repetitive practice

Mayu Akaiwa  1 , Koki Iwata  1 , Hidekazu Saito  2 , Takeshi Sasaki  3 , Kazuhiro Sugawara  3
Affiliations

Altered somatosensory evoked potentials associated with improved reaction time in a simple sensorimotor response task following repetitive practice

Mayu Akaiwa et al. Brain Behav. 2020 Aug.

Abstract

Introduction: Repetitive practice of sensorimotor tasks is widely used for neurorehabilitation; however, it is unknown how practice alters sensory processing (e.g., recognition, discrimination, and attentional allocation) and associated cognitive processing, such as decision-making. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether long-latency somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) reflecting sensory processing, attention, and decision-making are altered by sensorimotor learning.

Methods: Fifteen participants performed a simple sensorimotor response task (thumb opposition in response to surface electrical stimulation), with experimental recording sessions before and after three days of practice. We then compared multiple SEP waveforms and reaction times (RTs) between pre- and postpractice trials.

Results: The RT was reduced after practice of three days, and we found a significant positive correlation between ΔRT and ΔN140lat at F3, Cz, and C3', ΔRT and ΔN250lat at F3, and there was a significant negative correlation between ΔRT and ΔP300amp at C3'.

Conclusion: The present study suggests that motor learning improves somatosensory processing and attentional allocation via neuroplasticity and that these alterations are reflected by specific SEP changes.

Keywords: N140; N250; P300; reaction time task; somatosensory evoked potentials.

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Conflict of interest statement

None.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Mean reaction times (RTs) before (Pre) and after (Post) three days of practice (* p = .0003)
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Averaged learning curve of RT in all participants
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Typical examples of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) in a sensorimotor response task. The gray and black lines represent SEPs recorded before practice (Pre) and after three days of practice (Post), respectively
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Correlations between ΔRT and ΔN140lat at (a) F3, (b) Cz, and (c) C3’
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Correlations between ΔRT and ΔN250lat at F3
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6
Correlations between ΔRT and ΔN300amp at C3′
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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