Successive roles of the cerebellum and premotor cortices in trajectorial learning

Abstract

THE structures of the human brain engaged during learning of unilateral trajectorial hand movements were mapped by measurements of regional cerebral blood flow. Trajectorial movement velocity accelerated moderately after short-term training p < 0.025 and increased further after long-term training p < 0.01. During the early phase of learning there was a significant activation p < 0.001 of the ipsilateral dentate nucleus. By contrast, after over-learning the premotor cortical areas in both cerebral hemispheres were maximally activated p < 0.001, while the dentate nucleus was no longer activated. It is suggested that learning of new movement trajectories involves the cerebellum, while overlearned trajectorial movements engage the premotor cortex.