Triggering Motor Memory Consolidation in PD: Complex Practice of Fine Motor Tasks and Brain Activity During Learning

Participants will practice the Swipe Slide Pattern (SSP) task in combination with a secondary task, i.e. counting red or green lights. On day 1, participants perform 2 runs of the SSP-task (only one pattern), each lasting approx. 10 min, within an MR scanner. During each run, 9 trials of 30s are performed, alternated with rest periods of 14s. Instructions are provided before each trial (i.e. view of the pattern in combination with instruction to count red or green lights, 4s), as well as an answer option (i.e. participants have to indicate how many red or green lights they counted by circling a number from zero to nine, 6s). For the following 4 days, participants will continue practice of the SSP-task at home. During the at-home-sessions, participants will perform 9 trials of 12 patterns each, alternated with rest periods of 14s. Instruction and answers are also included. During at home practice, the same pattern as during scans is included, in combination with 2 new patterns.

Participants will practice the Swipe Slide Pattern (SSP) task without the presence of a secondary task. On day 1, participants perform two runs of the SSP-task (only one pattern), each lasting approx. 10 min, within an MR scanner. During each run, nine trials of 30s are performed, alternated with rest periods of 14s. In addition, instructions are provided before each trial (i.e. view of the pattern, 4s), as well as an answer option (i.e. participants have circle a random number from zero to nine, 6s). For the following four days (day 2-5), participants will continue practice of the SSP-task at home. During the at-home-sessions, participants will perform nine trials of 12 patterns each, alternated with rest periods of 14s. Instruction are also included. During at home practice, the same pattern as during scans is included, in combination with two new patterns.