Neurophysiological correlates of motor skill learning : reorganization of movement representations within motor cortex

This thesis used a rodent model of skilled forelimb training and intracortical microstimulation to examine the relationship between learning and cortical reorganization. This thesis examines how reorganization is related to the specific changes in forelimb movements during learning. It also examines the role that task reptition plays in driving motor cortex reorganization and showed that once the skilled motor task had been acquired it was necessary to repeat the task sufficiently to produce motor cortex reorganiztion. This thesis also examines reorganization following skilled reach training was related to the consolidation of motor skill, finding that animals that learned the skilled reaching task after five days of training also showed cortical reorganization, which persisted for one month. These experiments show that the distribution and subsequent redistribution of movement representations within motor cortex is related to changes in motor performance that occur during motor training.

Authors

• Hogg, Theresa M.
• University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science

• Dissertations, Academic
• Motor cortex
• Motor ability
• Movement, Psychology of
• Rats -- Behavior

Identifier

hdl:10133/182

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:opus.uleth.ca:10133/182