Practice with sleep makes perfect: sleep-dependent motor skill learning.

Full Abstract

Improvement in motor skill performance is known to continue for at least 24 hr following training, yet the relative contributions of time spent awake and asleep are unknown. Here we provide evidence that a night of sleep results in a 20% increase in motor speed without loss of accuracy, while an equivalent period of time during wake provides no significant benefit. Furthermore, a significant correlation exists between the improved performance overnight and the amount of stage 2 NREM sleep, particularly late in the night. This finding of sleep-dependent motor skill improvement may have important implications for the efficient learning of all skilled actions in humans.

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Author information

Author/s: Walker, Matthew P (MP); Brakefield, Tiffany (T); Morgan, Alexandra (A); Hobson, J Allan (JA); Stickgold, Robert (R);

Affiliation: Laboratory of Neurophysiology, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 74 Fenwood Road, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. mwalker(-atsign-)hms.harvard.edu

Grants: DA11744-01A1 (Agency:NIDA NIH HHS) ; MH-48832 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: Neuron (Neuron), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Jul; vol 35 (issue 1) : pp 205-11

Dates: Created 2002/07/18; Completed 2002/08/13; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 12123620, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: Neuron. 2002 Jul 3;35(1):5-7. (PMID: 12123601)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent
Adult
Brain - physiology
Circadian Rhythm - physiology
Female
Humans
Learning - physiology

Learning - physiology
Male
Memory - physiology
Motor Skills - physiology
Neuropsychological Tests
Sleep - physiology
Wakefulness - physiology

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