Employing resting-state functional connectivity to identify cortical modulators of motor sequence memory consolidation
-
1
KU Leuven, Department of Kinesiology, Belgium
-
2
University of Glasgow, Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, Scotland
Motor sequence memory consolidation is supported by dynamical interaction between striato- and hippocampo-cortical networks (Albouy et al., 2013). However, it remains unknown whether activity within these networks can be modulated in order to influence the consolidation process. The aim of the present study is to use resting-state (RS) functional connectivity to identify potential cortical areas that can be subsequently targeted with non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) in order to modulate the interaction between these two brain networks, ultimately influencing motor memory consolidation.
RS fMRI data were recorded on 26 young healthy subjects (mean age: 25.4 y.o.) with EPI sequences (TR=2.5s, voxel size=2.5x2.5x2.5mm) in a 3T MRI scanner. Whole-brain functional RS connectivity maps using the hippocampus and the caudate nucleus as seeds (defined anatomically bilaterally according to the AAL brain atlas) were computed with procedures similar to Solesio-Jofre et al. (2014). Conjunction analyses between the resulting hippocampal and striatal RS connectivity maps were performed in order to identify cortical nodes connected to both seed regions. Results indicate that the left DLPFC (-26 18 52mm) was significantly commonly connected to the hippocampus (z=2.30, p(FDR)<.05) and the caudate nucleus (z=2.44, p(FDR)<.05). Additional clusters in the conjunction map were also present in midline default mode network regions (e.g., MPFC, cingulum) as well as in the cerebellum and thalamus. In order to confirm that the identified DLPFC region is relevant for motor sequence learning, we analyzed an independent sample of task-related fMRI data obtained from 55 young healthy participants (mean age: 23 y.o.) with EPI sequences (TR=2.65s, voxel size=3.4x3.4x3mm) in a 3T scanner. Whole-brain Psycho-Physiological Interaction analyses were conducted using the above-mentioned left DLPFC as a seed region. Results indicate that task-related functional connectivity between the DLPFC and the left parahippocampus (-32 -46 -12mm, z=3.54, p(FWEsvc)<.05) as well as the left putamen (-28 -10 -6mm, z=3.38, p(FWEsvc)<.05) was modulated by performance on the motor task.
Altogether, our results suggest that the DLPFC is a critical cortical node orchestrating functional interactions between hippocampal and striatal networks involved in motor memory processes. Future research will use the identified DLPFC cluster as a cortical target for NIBS in order to modulate activity in the hippocampal and striatal networks and ultimately influence motor memory consolidation.
Keywords:
motor learning,
memory consolidation,
functional connectivity,
non-invasive brain stimulation,
Striatum,
Hippocampus,
DLPFC
Conference:
12th National Congress of the Belgian Society for Neuroscience, Gent, Belgium, 22 May - 22 May, 2017.
Presentation Type:
Poster Presentation
Topic:
Sensory and Motor Systems
Citation:
Gann
M,
King
BR,
Mantini
D,
Davare
M,
Robertson
E,
Swinnen
S and
Albouy
G
(2019). Employing resting-state functional connectivity to identify cortical modulators of motor sequence memory consolidation.
Front. Neurosci.
Conference Abstract:
12th National Congress of the Belgian Society for Neuroscience.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fnins.2017.94.00032
Copyright:
The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers.
They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters.
The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated.
Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed.
For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions.
Received:
28 Apr 2017;
Published Online:
25 Jan 2019.
*
Correspondence:
Ms. Mareike Gann, KU Leuven, Department of Kinesiology, Leuven, Belgium, mareike.gann@kuleuven.be