fMRI Investigation of Cortical and Subcortical Networks in the Learning of Abstract and Effector-Specific Representations of Motor Sequences

Brain-behavior correlation (BBC) analysis

In Table 4 we report the results from regression analysis of brain activation with the
two behavioral parameters. Areas that have a positive correlation in visual setting
would reflect sequence learning related changes while those with the motor setting
would be related to performance of the somato-motor sequence. Correlation results
depicted in Figures 6 and 7 clearly establish the role for pre-SMA in the visual setting
and that for the SMA in the motor setting. Correlation results indicate that as
performance improved in both the rotated settings, the activity in the right DLPFC
and the right superior parietal cortex decreased possibly reflecting processes related to
motor sequence learning and performance (Jenkins et al., 1994; Jueptner et al.,
1997a&b; Grafton, Hazeltine, & Ivry, 1998). As performance improved in the visual
setting, activity in pre-SMA, left ventral premotor increased and that in the left
hippocampus decreased. On the other hand as performance became over-learned in
the motor setting, activity in SMA and left dorsal premotor increased and that in the
left inferior parietal cortex and precuneus decreased.

Table 4. Brain behaviour correlations in the rotated settings

VISUAL                    MOTOR

Correlation of Brain activation with behavioural measures. Abbreviations: Sup. Superior, d Dorsal, Ant. Anterior, Post. Posterior

18

<<   <   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   >   >>