Author(s): TAUBERT, M., ZIEGLER, G., LEHMANN, N., Institution: UNIVERSITÄT MAGDEBURG, Country: GERMANY, Abstract-ID: 515

INTRODUCTION:
Differences in genetics and environment influence motor learning. Research indicates that variations in brain anatomy are related to balance learning (Lehmann et al., 2019). We have recently shown that higher levels of cortical folding in the left premotor cortex (rostral PMd) predict steeper learning rates in a challenging balance task (Taubert et al., 2023). However, it is unclear whether this brain-behavior relationship is moderated by person-specific factors. Here we tested for moderation effects by relatively stable biological factors (body size, gender, age) or environmental variation (initial performance, regular physical activity level).
METHODS:
Brain imaging (cortical curvature estimated from T1-weighted MRI images) and balance learning data (N=84) were used from Taubert et al. (2023). Learning rate and initial performance were estimated using power function (slope, intercept) fitted to individual motor performance data. Multiple regression analyses tested if binarized (median split) variables (age, body size, gender, physical activity level, initial balance performance) moderate the link between cortical folding and balance learning rate. Significance was determined using non-parametric statistics with 5000 permutations and family-wise error-corrected threshold of p < 0.05.
RESULTS:
A significant moderation effect was found for initial performance only. Here, the positive correlation between cortical folding in right PMd and learning rate was significantly larger in participants with lower as compared to higher initial performance levels. Simple slopes showed significant correlations in the right PMd only in participants with lower initial performances, whereas folding in the left PMd was correlated in participants with both low and high initial performances.
CONCLUSION:
These results support previous findings on the role of individual folding differences in balance learning (Taubert et al., 2023) and suggest early developmental influences on adult balance learning. In accordance with longitudinal studies (Taubert et al., 2010; Lehmann et al., 2023), it appears that right PMd affects stabilometer learning only at lower baseline levels, while left PMd has an impact regardless of baseline level.
Taubert, Ziegler & Lehmann. Better long-term learning ability is predicted by higher surface folding of the human premotor cortex. bioRxiv
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Lehmann, Tolentino-Castro, Kaminski, Ragert, Villringer & Taubert (2019). Interindividual differences in gray and white matter properties are associated with early complex motor skill acquisition. Hum Brain Mapp, 40(15), 4316–4330.
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