Sensorimotor performance is improved by targeted memory reactivation during a daytime nap in healthy older adults

•Targeted memory reactivation during sleep enhanced skill in older adults.•Sleep without targeted memory reactivation did not enhance skill in older adults.•Skill generalized to trained but non-cued task variants after targeted memory reactivation.•Skill did not generalize to un-trained task variant...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neuroscience letters 2020-07, Vol.731, p.134973-134973, Article 134973
Main Authors: Johnson, Brian P., Scharf, Steven M., Verceles, Avelino C., Westlake, Kelly P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Brain - physiology
Cues
Female
Humans
Learning - physiology
Male
Memory - physiology
Memory consolidation
Memory Consolidation - physiology
Middle Aged
Motor learning
Occupational therapy
Physical therapy
Sleep
Sleep - physiology
Task Performance and Analysis
Time Factors
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Summary:•Targeted memory reactivation during sleep enhanced skill in older adults.•Sleep without targeted memory reactivation did not enhance skill in older adults.•Skill generalized to trained but non-cued task variants after targeted memory reactivation.•Skill did not generalize to un-trained task variants or to an un-trained task after targeted memory reactivation. Sensorimotor consolidation occurs during sleep. However, the benefit of sleep-based consolidation decreases with age due to decreased sleep quality and quantity. This study aimed to enhance sensorimotor performance through repetitive delivery of task-based auditory cues during sleep, known as targeted memory reactivation (TMR). Healthy older adults performed a non-dominant arm throwing task before and after a 1 h nap. While napping, half of participants received TMR throughout the hour. Participants who received TMR during sleep demonstrated a greater overall change in throwing accuracy from the start of the first to the end of the second throwing task session. However, there was no generalization of throwing accuracy to variants of the task or to a novel dart throwing task. Findings support the use of TMR during sleep to enhance task-specific sensorimotor performance in healthy older adults despite age-related decreases in sleep quality and quantity. Future research is needed to evaluate the effects of TMR on rehabilitation protocols.
ISSN:0304-3940
1872-7972
DOI:10.1016/j.neulet.2020.134973