Neural Correlates of Dual-Task Processing following Motor Sequence Learning: A Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) Study

Abstract

The current study used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to examine cerebral oxygenation changes in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) associated with dual-task processing before and after motor sequence learning. Participants performed self-initiated sequential finger movements that were 4 and 12 units in length with a visual letter-counting task. After practice, dual-task sequence-4 performance revealed decreased activity in the right dorsolateral PFC, medial PFC, and orbitofrontal cortex. However, dual-task sequence-12 performance revealed increased activity in the right ventrolateral PFC when compared to the left hemisphere. The findings suggest that dual-task interference was reduced following practice for dual-task sequence-4. The results also suggest that increased right hemisphere activation is needed to maintain performance when the primary sequential task (e.g., dual-task sequence-12) has a high level of difficulty.

Keywords:

• functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)
• motor sequence learning
• dual-task
• prefrontal cortex (PFC)

Disclosure statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Postgraduate Scholarship awarded to NP.