Molecular Mechanisms Associated with the Benefits of Variable Practice in Motor Learning.

This study aimed ao investigating the association between the glutamate receptors, NMDA and AMPA, and constant and variable practice schedules. Seventy-eight male mice practiced the rotarod task in a constant or variable scheduling, in two consecutive days (acquisition phase). Learning tests were performed 24 h and 10 days after the end of the acquisition phase. Variable practice was more associated with the NMDA receptor and had a greater AMPA receptor expression than constant practice. The results suggest that the benefits of variable practice are result of both the greater dependency on the NMDA receptor and the greater AMPA receptor expression. PMID: 31387517 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Journal of Motor Behavior - Category: Neurology Tags: J Mot Behav Source Type: research