Title: The nature of savings associated with a visuomotor adaptation task that involves one arm or both arms
Name: Reshma James
Primary Presenters: Reshma James
College of Health Sciences
Research Doctorate (PhD)
Faculty Sponsor(s): Dr. Jinsung Wang

The nature of savings in visuomotor adaptation is typically studied using a paradigm in which the same arm experiences multiple conditions such as adaptation, washout, and readaptation. It has seldom been studied, however, using a paradigm that involves both arms. This is important, given that savings has been observed not only when adaptation and readaptation occur with the same arm, but also when they involve both arms. Here, we examined the effect of (1) using different arms and (2) the availability of visual feedback during a washout session following visuomotor adaptation on the pattern of savings observed during readaptation. We first had neurologically intact young adults adapt to a 30-degree visuomotor rotation condition during targeted reaching movements with the left arm. Following that, they experienced a washout session with either the left or right arm, with or without visual feedback, and then the readaptation session with the left arm again. We hypothesized that if savings occurred due to the explicit recall of cognitive strategies, the pattern of savings would be similar regardless of which arm was used during the washout session. Results showed that the amount of savings varied depending on which arm was used during the washout session and that the availability of visual feedback influenced the rate of relearning, but not the amount of savings. Our findings suggest that the explicit recall of strategies is not the only source for savings and further suggest that effector-specific, use-dependent learning can also contribute to savings.

https://sites.uwm.edu/healthresearchsymposium/files/formidable/2/References_UWM-research-symposium.docx