Observation and Validation of Error-Related Potentials Induced by Accuracy Error during Motor Skill Learning

Background and Purpose: Error-based learning is the most important principle in learning of motor skills. Error elicits typical brain activities, error-related potentials, is associated with error detection and performance monitoring. The components of error-related potentials include error-related negativity (ERN), positivity error (Pe), and feedback-related negativity (FRN). Though, error-related potentials signify errors in motor behaviors, previous studies were largely confined in investigating commission error rather than accuracy error which related to precision of movement. In addition, these brain activities have never been explored during the course of motor learning. The purposes of present study is twofold; to investigate whether components of error-related potentials are able to differentiate magnitude of movement error produced by voluntary action, and adapt their sensitivity according to different stages of motor learning. Methods: Factorial with block design will be adopted as design scheme. Independent variables of this experiment include two within subject factors which are “stage of learning” (early, late, retention & transfer) and “level of error” which divides the accuracy errors into quarters according to their magnitudes (Q1, Q2, Q3 & Q4). The dependent variables include accuracy error, peak amplitude and latency of ERN, Pe and FRN. Thirty healthy adults will be recruited by sample of convenience as participants. During the experiment, the participant will be asked to learn a ballistic elbow positioning task. Electroencephalographic activities (FCz、Cz、CPz、Pz) and accuracy errors will be captured simultaneously by Neuron-spectrum 4/p (Neurosoft, Ivanovo, Russia). Accuracy errors and error-related potentials (ERN, Pe, FRN) associated with different levels of error and among early, late, retention and transfer stages of learning will be analyzed by two-way repeated measures ANOVA (4 x 4). The significance level is set at α= 0.05.

Project ID:PF10408-0909
External Project ID:MOST104-2633-H182-001