Sequence learning underlies the acquisition of motor, cognitive, as well as social skills; therefore, it is crucial in everyday life from childhood to old age. Previous studies have shown the involvement of the frontostriatal networks in this type of learning. The specific functions of the components of these networks are, however, still debated. In this talk recent results will be presented focusing on 1) age differences across life span, 2) the competition between internal models and detection of probabilities, 3) the role of sleep in the consolidation of sequence knowledge, 4) how non-invasive brain stimulation affects learning, and 5) what aspects of learning are impaired/preserved in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). These studies shed light not only on different learning mechanisms underlying probabilistic sequence learning but also on their neurocognitive background.

References

Nemeth, D., Janacsek, K., Polner, B., & Kovacs, Z. A. (2013). Boosting human learning by hypnosis. Cerebral Cortex, 23(4), 801-805.

Janacsek, K., Nemeth, D. (2013). Implicit Sequence Learning and Working Memory: Correlated or Complicated? Cortex, 49(8), 2001-2006.

Nemeth, D., Janacsek, K., Király, K., Londe, Z., Németh, K., Fazekas, K., Adam, I.,  Király E. & Csányi, A (2013). Probabilistic Sequence Learning in Mild Cognitive Impairment. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 7, Article 318.

Hallgató, E., Győri-Dani, D., Pekár, J., Janacsek, K., & Nemeth, D. (2013). The differential consolidation of perceptual and motor learning in skill acquisition. Cortex, 49(4), 1073-1081.

Nemeth, D., Janacsek, K., & Fiser, J. (2013). Age-dependent and coordinated shift in performance between implicit and explicit skill learning. Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience, 7, Article 147.

Janacsek, K., Fiser, J., & Nemeth, D. (2012). The best time to acquire new skills: age related changes in implicit learning across human life span. Developmental Science, 15(4), 496-505

Nemeth, D., Csabi, E., Janacsek, K., Varszegi, M., Mari, Z. (2012). Intact implicit probabilistic sequence learning in Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Journal of Sleep Research, 21, 396-401

Nemeth, D., Janacsek, K., Londe Zs., Ullman, M. T., Howard D. V., Howard, J. H. Jr (2010). Sleep has no critical role in implicit motor sequence learning in young and old adults. Experimental Brain Research, 201(2), 351-358