Motor Neuroscience Laboratory

Speech Motor Learning Sensory Plasticity Generalization Impedance Control


This set of studies examines the idea that training induced changes to motor and sensory areas of the brain do not occur in isolation. Motor learning changes sensory systems and perceptual learning alters motor function and motor networks in the brain.

Ebrahimi S, Ostry DJ (2024) The human somatosensory cortex contributes to the encoding of newly learned movements. Proc Natl Sci USA 121: e2316294121
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Darainy M, Manning TF (2023) Disruption of somatosensory cortex impairs motor learning and retention. J Neurophysiol 130: 1521–1528
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This study tests for a function of the somatosensory cortex, that, in addition to its role in processing somatic afferent information, somatosensory cortex contributes both to motor learning and the stabilization of motor memory. Continuous theta-burst magnetic stimulation (cTBS) was applied, before force-field training to disrupt activity in either the primary somatosensory cortex, primary motor cortex, or a control zone over the occipital lobe. Tests for retention and relearning were conducted after a 24 h delay. Analysis of movement kinematic measures and force-channel trials found that cTBS to somatosensory cortex disrupted both learning and subsequent retention, whereas cTBS to motor cortex had little effect on learning but possibly impaired retention. Basic movement variables are unaffected by cTBS suggesting that the stimulation does not interfere with movement but instead disrupts changes in the cortex that are necessary for learning. In all experimental conditions, relearning in an abruptly introduced force field, which followed retention testing, showed extensive savings, which is consistent with previous work suggesting that more cognitive aspects of learning and retention are not dependent on either of the cortical zones under test. Taken together, the findings are consistent with the idea that motor learning is dependent on learning-related activity in the somatosensory cortex. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study uses noninvasive transcranial magnetic stimulation to test the contribution of somatosensory and motor cortex to human motor learning and retention. Continuous theta-burst stimulation is applied before learning; participants return 24 h later to assess retention. Disruption of the somatosensory cortex is found to impair both learning and retention, whereas disruption of the motor cortex has no effect on learning. The findings are consistent with the idea that motor learning is dependent upon learning-related plasticity in somatosensory cortex.

Kumar N, Sidarta A, Smith C, Ostry DJ, (2022) Ventrolateral prefrontal cortex contributes to human motor learning. eNeuro

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Kumar N, van Vugt FT, Ostry DJ (2021) Recognition memory for human motor learning. Curr Biol 31:1678-1686.
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Kumar N, Manning TF, Ostry DJ (2019) Somatosensory cortex participates in the consolidation of human motor memory. PLOS Biol 17(10).
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Ohashi H, Gribble PL, Ostry DJ (2019) Somatosensory cortical excitability changes precede those in motor cortex during human motor learning. J Neurophysiol 122:1397-1405.
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Ostry DJ, Gribble PL (2016) Sensory plasticity in human motor learning. Trends Neurosci 39:114-123.

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Bernardi NF, Darainy M, Ostry DJ (2015) Somatosensory contribution to the early stages of motor skill learning. J Neurosci 35: 14316 -14326.
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Vahdat S, Darainy M, Ostry DJ (2014) Structure of plasticity in human sensory and motor networks due to perceptual learning. J Neurosci 34:2451-63.
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Darainy M, Vahdat S, Ostry DJ (2013) Perceptual learning in sensorimotor adaptation. J Neurophysiol 110: 2152-2162.
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Vahdat S, Darainy M, Milner TE, Ostry DJ (2011) Functionally specific changes in resting-state sensorimotor networks after motor learning. J Neurosci 31:16907-16915.
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Ostry DJ, Darainy M, Mattar AAG, Wong J, Gribble PL (2010) Somatosensory plasticity and motor learning. J Neurosci 30:5384-5393.
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