Explicit and Implicit Contributions to Learning in a Sensorimotor Adaptation Task

Visuomotor adaptation has been thought to be an implicit process that results when a sensory-prediction error signal is used to update a forward model. A striking feature of human competence is the ability to receive verbal instructions and employ strategies to solve tasks; such explicit processes could be used during visuomotor adaptation. Here, we used a novel task design that allowed us to obtain continuous verbal reports of aiming direction while participants learned a visuomotor rotation. We had two main hypotheses: the contribution of explicit learning would be modulated by instruction and the contribution of implicit learning would be modulated by the form of error feedback. By directly assaying aiming…

• JS
  James S. McDonnell Foundation

  Award: 220020220
• NI
  National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

  Award: R01NS074917
• NI
  National Institute of Child Health and Human Development