The HED Task Catalog is under development. IDs are not stable until formal release. Comments are welcome at github.com/hed-standard/hed-task/issues.

Motor Sequence Learning Task

HED task ID: hedtsk_motor_sequence_learning

Family: Motor performance and speeded response tasks

Also known as: Sequence Learning, Finger Sequence Task

Repeated execution of a fixed finger sequence; within- and across-session speed and accuracy changes index motor skill learning.

Description

Participants are trained to execute finger sequences (e.g., pressing buttons in a specific order: 4-1-3-2-4) either continuously or in discrete blocks. Learning is indexed by decreasing RT, reduced movement duration, and decreased errors. Neuroimaging shows early learning engages cerebellum and prefrontal cortex, while consolidated sequences show greater striatal and reduced cerebellar engagement, reflecting a shift from explicit, attention-demanding processes to implicit, automatic execution. Sleep promotes offline consolidation of motor sequences.

Inclusion test

An experiment is an instance of this task when its procedure matches, it manipulates at least one of the listed variables, and it records at least one of the listed measures.

Procedure

Participants repeatedly perform a fixed sequence of finger movements (e.g., 4-1-3-2-4) in response to spatial cues. Over practice, performance speeds up and becomes more automatic.

Manipulation

Sequence length and complexity; explicit vs. implicit instruction; amount of practice; sleep consolidation intervals.

Measurement

Sequence execution time; error rate; offline gains (improvement after sleep); transfer to new sequences.

Variations

Named versions that change what the participant experiences or does. The identifier of a variation is hedvar_<task>__<variation>.

Variation

Description

Justification

Discrete Sequence Production (DSP)

hedvar_motor_sequence_learning__discrete_sequence_production_dsp

Execute learned sequences from memory as fast as possible.

Canonical pre-learned sequence executed rapidly; measures chunking

Serial Reaction Time Task variant

hedvar_motor_sequence_learning__serial_reaction_time_task_variant

Implicit sequence learning via stimulus-response mapping.

Implicit learning via RT advantages for repeating sequences

Finger Opposition Task

hedvar_motor_sequence_learning__finger_opposition

Sequential thumb-to-finger tapping in fixed patterns.

Thumb-to-finger opposition sequences; different finger movement type

Bimanual Coordination

hedvar_motor_sequence_learning__bimanual_coordination

Both hands performing complementary or conflicting sequences.

Both hands performing sequences; interlimb coordination demands

Explicit vs. Implicit Sequence Learning

hedvar_motor_sequence_learning__explicit_vs_implicit_sequence_learning

Participants aware vs. unaware of sequence structure.

Aware vs. unaware of sequence structure; different instruction and learning mechanism

Sequence Complexity Manipulation

hedvar_motor_sequence_learning__sequence_complexity_manipulation

Simple (4-element) to complex (12-element) sequences.

Varies sequence length and structure; tests learning as function of complexity

Transfer Tests

hedvar_motor_sequence_learning__transfer_tests

Testing learned sequences with different effectors or in mirror configuration.

Probe what was learned by testing with modified sequence; different test phase structure

Continuous Tracking + Sequence

hedvar_motor_sequence_learning__continuous_tracking_sequence

Pursuit-tracking task with embedded repeating segments.

Sequence embedded in continuous tracking; tests incidental learning during ongoing task

Cognitive processes

This task is designed to engage the following processes:

Key references

  • Karni, A., Meyer, G., Rey-Hipolito, C., et al. (1998). The acquisition of skilled motor performance: Fast and slow experience-driven changes in primary motor cortex. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 95(3), 861-868. (DOI, PubMed)

  • Doyon, J., Bellec, P., Amsel, R., et al. (2009). Contributions of the basal ganglia and functionally related brain structures to motor learning. Behavioural Brain Research, 199(1), 61-72. (DOI, PubMed)

  • Walker, M. P., Brakefield, T., Morgan, A., Hobson, J. A., & Stickgold, R. (2002). Practice with sleep makes perfect: Sleep-dependent motor skill learning. Neuron, 35(1), 205-211. (DOI, PubMed)

Further references

  • King, B. R., Hoedlmoser, K., Hirschauer, F., Dolfen, N., & Albouy, G. (2017). Sleeping on the motor engram: The multifaceted nature of sleep-related motor memory consolidation. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 80, 1–22. (DOI, PubMed)

  • Hikosaka, O., Nakamura, K., Sakai, K., & Nakahara, H. (2002). Central mechanisms of motor skill learning. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 12(2), 217–222. [Updated: Diedrichsen, J., & Kornysheva, K. (2015). Motor skill learning between selection and execution. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 19(4), 227–233.] (DOI, PubMed)

  • Verwey, W. B., Shea, C. H., & Wright, D. L. (2015). A cognitive framework for explaining serial processing and sequence execution strategies. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 22(1), 54–77. (DOI)