Feedback delivered during motor practice can help promote motor skill learning, enhance confidence, and alter brain connectivity. However, the optimal way to provide feedback to promote learning, confidence and brain connectivity is unknown. This project will study how the feedback that is provided during practice of a movement skill can help people learn and build confidence and whether these correspond to changes in brain function. The investigators will measure motor skill performance, confidence, and resting state brain connectivity before and after a session of motor practice.
Positive social comparative feedback, which indicate to the learner that they are performing above average, is one way to enhance a learner's expectancies about future performance. Expectancies include the learners' perceived competence about their ability to perform the task, expectations about task outcome (success or failure), and predictions of extrinsic reward or positive experiences related to performance. Positive feedback during motor practice enhances expectancies, which is hypothesized to be rewarding to the learner, leading to better skill performance and learning. Reward is a powerful shaper of behavior. However, while social comparative feedback supports motor skill learning, it is unclear whether positive social comparative feedback induces a response in the dopamine reward network. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the effects of social comparative feedback during motor practice on the functional connectivity of the reward neural network. The study aims to recruit 40 participants who will be randomized into 1 of 2 feedback groups (performance feedback or performance plus positive feedback). Participants will practice a motor sequence task on a single day and then return for retention performance testing about 24 hours later. Measures of brain function and brain structure will be collected before and after practice on day 1. Changes in performance (response time to complete a sequence) and self-efficacy will be measured from baseline to 24 hours later at retention. Changes in brain functional connectivity over practice on day 1 will be assessed in the reward network and the motor network.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Participants will be seated at a laptop with the right hand on a standard joystick. The movement of the joystick will move a cursor on the computer screen. Targets will appear on the laptop screen as a circle in one of twelve spatially distinct locations. The learner must move the joystick "cursor" to inside the target before the next target will appear.
University of South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina, United States
Response Time
Time to complete one sequence
Time frame: Change from baseline to retention at 24 hours
Task Confidence
Self-reported confidence in ability to complete a sequence in a given time on a scale of 0 to 10 with a 10 equating to higher confidence
Time frame: Change from baseline to retention at 24 hours
Brain Connectivity
Resting state connectivity between pairs of brain regions
Time frame: Change from baseline to immediately after practice
Peak Velocity
Average speed to capture a target within a sequence
Time frame: Change from baseline to retention at 24 hours
Total Path Distance
Total distance traveled to complete one sequence
Time frame: Change from baseline to retention at 24 hours
Time to Peak Velocity
Mean time to peak velocity for movement to a target within a sequence
Time frame: Change from baseline to retention at 24 hours
Perceived Competence
Mean score on the Perceived Competence subscale of the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory where each item ranges from 0 to 7 with a higher value equating to higher competence
Time frame: Change from baseline to retention at 24 hours
Perceived Interest/Enjoyment
Mean score on the Interest/Enjoyment subscale of the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory where each item ranges from 0 to 7 with a higher value equating to higher enjoyment
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Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
33
Time frame: Change from baseline to retention at 24 hours
Positive Affect
Total score for general positive affect on the Positive and Negative Affect Scale with a range from 10 to 50 with higher scores equating to higher positive affect
Time frame: Change from baseline to retention at 24 hours
Peak Velocity
Average speed to capture a target within a sequence
Time frame: Change from baseline to immediately after practice
Total Path Distance
Total distance traveled to complete one sequence
Time frame: Change from baseline to immediately after practice
Time to Peak Velocity
Mean time to peak velocity for movement to a target within a sequence
Time frame: Change from baseline to immediately after practice
Perceived Competence
Mean score on the Perceived Competence subscale of the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory where each item ranges from 0 to 7 with a higher value equating to higher competence
Time frame: Change from baseline to immediately after practice
Perceived Interest/Enjoyment
Mean score on the Interest/Enjoyment subscale of the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory where each item ranges from 0 to 7 with a higher value equating to higher enjoyment
Time frame: Change from baseline to immediately after practice
Positive Affect
Total score for general positive affect on the Positive and Negative Affect Scale with a range from 10 to 50 with higher scores equating to higher positive affect
Time frame: Change from baseline to immediately after practice
Response Time
Time to complete one sequence
Time frame: Change from baseline to immediately after practice
Task Confidence
Self-reported confidence in ability to complete a sequence in a given time on a scale of 0 to 10 with a 10 equating to higher confidence
Time frame: Change from baseline to immediately after practice
Brain Structure
Structural integrity of white matter pathways in the brain
Time frame: Baseline assessment