Aging increases the susceptibility to motor memory interference and reduces off-line gains in motor skill learning

TY - JOUR

T1 - Aging increases the susceptibility to motor memory interference and reduces off-line gains in motor skill learning

AU - Roig, Marc

AU - Ritterband-Rosenbaum, Anina

AU - Jensen, Jesper Lundbye

AU - Nielsen, Jens Bo

N1 - CURIS 2014 NEXS 142

PY - 2014/8

Y1 - 2014/8

N2 - Declines in the ability to learn motor skills in older adults are commonly attributed to deficits in the encoding of sensorimotor information during motor practice. We investigated whether aging also impairs motor memory consolidation by assessing the susceptibility to memory interference and off-line gains in motor skill learning after practice in children, young, and older adults. Subjects performed a ballistic task (A) followed by an accuracy-tracking task (B) designed to disrupt the consolidation of A. Retention tests of A were performed immediately and 24 hours after B. Older adults showed greater susceptibility to memory interference and no off-line gains in motor skill learning. Performing B produced memory interference and reduced off-line gains only in the older group. However, older adults also showed deficits in memory consolidation independent of the interfering effects of B. Age-related declines in motor skill learning are not produced exclusively by deficits in the encoding of sensorimotor information during practice. Aging also increases the susceptibility to memory interference and reduces off-line gains in motor skill learning after practice.

AB - Declines in the ability to learn motor skills in older adults are commonly attributed to deficits in the encoding of sensorimotor information during motor practice. We investigated whether aging also impairs motor memory consolidation by assessing the susceptibility to memory interference and off-line gains in motor skill learning after practice in children, young, and older adults. Subjects performed a ballistic task (A) followed by an accuracy-tracking task (B) designed to disrupt the consolidation of A. Retention tests of A were performed immediately and 24 hours after B. Older adults showed greater susceptibility to memory interference and no off-line gains in motor skill learning. Performing B produced memory interference and reduced off-line gains only in the older group. However, older adults also showed deficits in memory consolidation independent of the interfering effects of B. Age-related declines in motor skill learning are not produced exclusively by deficits in the encoding of sensorimotor information during practice. Aging also increases the susceptibility to memory interference and reduces off-line gains in motor skill learning after practice.

U2 - 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2014.02.022

DO - 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2014.02.022

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 24680325

SN - 0197-4580

VL - 35

SP - 1892

EP - 1900

JO - Neurobiology of Aging

JF - Neurobiology of Aging

IS - 8

ER -