Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

We have all had the frustrating experience of using a computer whose cursor moves much faster than anticipated, resulting in erroneous "clicking". With practice, however, we gradually adjust to the cursor gain and reclaim our ability to swiftly move the cursor to the desired location on the screen. This learning process, known as sensorimotor adaptation, is thought to stem from the coordinated activity of a neural network that includes frontoparietal areas and the cerebellum. It is currently unclear how these regions coordinate their activity to support sensorimotor adaptation, mainly because cerebellar activity has historically been difficult to measure non-invasively. Electroencephalography (EEG), a non-invasive neuroimaging technique that measures the small electric potentials produced by brain tissue, can measure cortical neural activity but its ability to measure cerebellar activity has historically been doubted. This view has recently been challenged, however, and compelling evidence suggests that measuring cerebellar activity with EEG is more than likely feasible. In this light, the purpose of this research program is to use EEG to investigate the corticocerebellar dynamics that subtend sensorimotor adaptation, with a specific focus on its implicit component. To do this, a total of 160 healthy adults (50% female) aged between 18 and 45 years will be recruited over the next 5 years to participate in four different EEG experiments based on a specific sensorimotor adaptation protocol known as the visuomotor clamp. Using this approach, four core research questions will be addressed: 1) What are the corticocerebellar dynamics that subtend implicit adaptation? 2) How does error amplitude impact implicit adaptation dynamics? 3) How does task success influence implicit adaptation dynamics? and 4) How does cerebellar dysfunction impact implicit adaptation dynamics? This research will provide valuable theoretical insights regarding the nebulous corticocerebellar dynamics that support implicit sensorimotor adaptation. From a practical standpoint, a better understanding of the neural dynamics that subtend this type of learning will provide non-invasive markers that can inform rehabilitation strategies, such as neurostimulation and neurofeedback, which are gradually being implemented in clinical settings.