State dependence of adaptation of force output following movement observation

Wanda, Paul A.; Li, Rich Gang; Thoroughman, Kurt A.

doi:10.1152/jn.00353.2012

Cited by 9 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 47 publications

(57 reference statements)

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“…In previous studies involving the same paradigm used here it has been shown that changes in movement curvature following observation are modulated in opposite directions based on the direction of the observed force field [3,5,21]. In another recent study it was shown that following observation, movements in force-channel trials exhibited systematic changes in the magnitude and direction of the force applied by subjects—changes that mirrored the direction of the observed force field [9]. …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 74%

“…For instance, individuals can learn how to reach in novel dynamical environments (‘force fields’) by observing the movements of a tutor. Action observation promotes sensory-motor plasticity and behavioral changes in both the motor and sensory domains [3–9]. However, it remains unclear how the brain maps visual information about the movements of others onto motor circuits for learning.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This idea has recently been extended to motor learning, in which observation results in sensory-motor plasticity and behavioral changes in both motor and somatosensory domains [3–9]. However, it is unclear how the brain maps visual information onto motor circuits for learning.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Functional Plasticity in Somatosensory Cortex Supports Motor Learning by Observing

2016

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Summary An influential idea in neuroscience is that the sensory-motor system is activated when observing the actions of others [1,2]. This idea has recently been extended to motor learning, in which observation results in sensory-motor plasticity and behavioral changes in both motor and somatosensory domains [3–9]. However, it is unclear how the brain maps visual information onto motor circuits for learning. Here we test the idea that the somatosensory system, and specifically primary somatosensory cortex (S1), plays a role in motor learning by observing. In Experiment 1 we applied stimulation to the median nerve to occupy the somatosensory system with unrelated inputs while participants observed a tutor learning to reach in a force field. Stimulation disrupted motor learning by observing in a limb-specific manner. Stimulation delivered to the right arm (same arm used by the tutor) disrupted learning whereas left arm stimulation did not. This is consistent with the idea that a somatosensory representation of the observed effector must be available during observation for learning to occur. In Experiment 2 we assessed S1 cortical processing before and after observation by measuring somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) associated with median nerve stimulation. SEP amplitudes increased only for participants who observed learning. Moreover, SEPs increased more for participants who exhibited greater motor learning following observation. Taken together, these findings support the idea that motor learning by observing relies on functional plasticity in S1. We propose that visual signals about the movements of others are mapped onto motor circuits for learning via the somatosensory system.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 74%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Functional Plasticity in Somatosensory Cortex Supports Motor Learning by Observing

2016

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“…A series of studies has demonstrated that action observation can facilitate force field (FF) adaptation (Bernardi et al 2013;Brown et al 2009;Mattar and Gribble 2005;Wanda et al 2013). FF adaptation is one form of motor learning in which well-learned movements are adapted to externally applied forces.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Somatosensory perceptual training enhances motor learning by observing

McGregor

Cashaback

Gribble

2018

Journal of Neurophysiology

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Action observation activates brain regions involved in sensory-motor control. Recent research has shown that action observation can also facilitate motor learning; observing a tutor undergoing motor learning results in functional plasticity within the motor system and gains in subsequent motor performance. However, the effects of observing motor learning extend beyond the motor domain. Converging evidence suggests that observation also results in somatosensory functional plasticity and somatosensory perceptual changes. This work has raised the possibility that the somatosensory system is also involved in motor learning that results from observation. Here we tested this hypothesis using a somatosensory perceptual training paradigm. If the somatosensory system is indeed involved in motor learning by observing, then improving subjects' somatosensory function before observation should enhance subsequent motor learning by observing. Subjects performed a proprioceptive discrimination task in which a robotic manipulandum moved the arm and subjects made judgments about the position of their hand. Subjects in a Trained Learning group received trial-by-trial feedback to improve their proprioceptive perception. Subjects in an Untrained Learning group performed the same task without feedback. All subjects then observed a learning video showing a tutor adapting her reaches to a left force field. Subjects in the Trained Learning group, who had superior proprioceptive acuity prior to observation, benefited more from observing learning than subjects in the Untrained Learning group. Improving somatosensory function can therefore enhance subsequent observation-related gains in motor learning. This study provides further evidence in favor of the involvement of the somatosensory system in motor learning by observing.

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“…Observational motor adaptation describes how individuals can learn to respond to novel sensorimotor perturbations by observing someone else adapt their movements to those same perturbations. Observation has been shown to facilitate visuomotor adaptation [46][47][48], force-field adaptation [46,57,58], and force estimation [59,60]. For example, in experiments probing the effects of observation on subsequent visuomotor adaptation [61][62][63], participants observe someone else learning to reach using rotated visual feedback.…”

Section: Open Accessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Watch and Learn: The Cognitive Neuroscience of Learning from Others’ Actions

Ramsey

Kaplan

Cross

2021

Trends in Neurosciences

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The mirror neuron system has dominated understanding of observational learning from a cognitive neuroscience perspective. Our review highlights the value of observational learning frameworks that integrate a more diverse and distributed set of cognitive and brain systems, including those implicated in sensorimotor transformations, as well as in more general processes such as executive control, reward, and social cognition. We argue that understanding how observational learning occurs in the real world will require neuroscientific frameworks that consider how visuomotor processes interface with more general aspects of cognition, as well as how learning context and action complexity shape mechanisms supporting learning from watching others. Learning from Watching Others Is a Fundamental Human SkillWhether learning to dance Gangnam Style, open a bottle of champagne, or tie shoelaces, humans learn a great deal by simply watching others [1,2]. Learning by observation can have many benefits over physical practice without observation. This is especially true in dangerous or novel environments where poor initial performance can be costly, such as learning to drop in on a skateboard ramp without first watching someone else do it successfully. Equally, learning by watching others is beneficial in social situations where active participation is not possible, such as watching your supervisor give critical feedback to a colleague. As such, observational learning has been of considerable interest to experts from a variety of disciplines, including social and developmental psychology, sport and exercise science, comparative biology and robotics, where researchers are examining how we learn from watching others across a range of behaviors, from simple motor movements to complex social interactions [1,[3][4][5]. HighlightsUnderstanding how the human brain translates visual information into skilled motor performance has been assisted and constrained by the discovery of mirror neurons.Emerging evidence highlights how observational motor learning involves a far more diffuse network of brain regions and cognitive processes, which are shaped by the context and complexity of the motor task to be learned.A greater emphasis on combining functional decomposition and functional integration approaches should facilitate paradigms and discoveries that move us closer toward understanding how we learn from watching others in complex, real-world scenarios.

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State dependence of adaptation of force output following movement observation

Abstract: Wanda PA, Li G, Thoroughman KA. State dependence of adaptation of force output following movement observation.

Cited by 9 publications

References 47 publications

Functional Plasticity in Somatosensory Cortex Supports Motor Learning by Observing

Functional Plasticity in Somatosensory Cortex Supports Motor Learning by Observing

Somatosensory perceptual training enhances motor learning by observing

Watch and Learn: The Cognitive Neuroscience of Learning from Others’ Actions

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