Aerobic exercise and aerobic fitness level do not modify motor learning

Abstract

Motor learning may be enhanced when a single session of aerobic exercise is performed immediately before or after motor skill practice. Most research to date has focused on aerobically trained (AT) individuals, but it is unknown if aerobically untrained (AU) individuals would equally benefit. We aimed to: (a) replicate previous studies and determine the effect of rest (REST) versus exercise (EXE) on motor skill retention, and (b) explore the effect of aerobic fitness level (AU, AT), assessed by peak oxygen uptake (VO₂peak), on motor skill retention after exercise. Forty-four participants (20-29 years) practiced a visuomotor tracking task (acquisition), immediately followed by 25-min of high-intensity cycling or rest. Twenty-four hours after acquisition, participants completed a motor skill retention test. REST and EXE groups significantly improved motor skill performance during acquisition [F(3.17, 133.22) = 269.13, P = 0.001], but had no group differences in motor skill retention across time. AU-exercise (VO₂peak = 31.6 ± 4.2 ml kg^-1 min^-1) and AT-exercise (VO₂peak = 51.5 ± 7.6 ml kg^-1 min^-1) groups significantly improved motor skill performance during acquisition [F(3.07, 61.44) = 155.95, P = 0.001], but had no group differences in motor skill retention across time. Therefore, exercise or aerobic fitness level did not modify motor skill retention.

Figure 1

Participant flow diagram.

Figure 2

Motor skill performance curves for REST versus EXE groups, and AU-EXE versus AT-EXE groups. Mean Time on Target (ToT) scores (20 trials per block) for acquisition (B1-6), 24-h retention test (24R), ceiling test (C1-3), and immediate retention test (IR) are plotted for (a) REST and EXE groups, and (b) AU- EXE and AT-EXE groups. Participants rested or exercised (shown as grey bar) immediately after B6. Mean ToT scores for participant’s best block of acquisition (Best) and 24-h retention test (24R) are plotted for (c) REST and EXE groups, and (d) AU-EXE and AT-EXE groups. All data represent mean ± SEM.

Figure 3

Individual motor skill performance curves. For each participant, mean Time on Target (ToT) scores (20 trials per block) are shown for acquisition (B1-6), best block of acquisition (Best), and 24-h retention test (24R). (a) All participants, categorized by REST or EXE group. (b–e) For each group, dotted lines represent individual data curves and solid lines represent means for each respective group.

Figure 4

Study design schematic.

Figure 5

Visuomotor tracking task practiced during acquisition. (a) Force transducer (b) Participants traced a blue cursor through red targets on a computer screen as accurately as possible. Online feedback of the cursor’s real-time position and tail (i.e. the path the cursor travelled through) were visible during each trial.