Explicit Motor Sequence Learning in Relapse-Remission MS Patients

• Main Authors: Nahid Zahiri, Iraj Abdollahi, Seyyed Masoud Nabavi, Amir Masoud A'rab
• Format: Article
• Language: fas
• Published: University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences 2013-07-01
• Series: Journal of Rehabilitation
• Subjects: Multiple sclerosis; Explicit learning; Reaction time; Motor skill
• Online Access: http://rehabilitationj.uswr.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-581-6&slc_lang=en&sid=1

Objective: The purpose of this study was studying of explicit motor learning in Relapse-Remission (RR) MS patients and compare with healthy subject. Materials & Methods: A serial reaction time task by using software was applied for studying explicit motor learning in 15 RRMS patients and 15 matched healthy subjects. In this task four squares with different colors appeared on the computer screen and the subjects were asked to press 1 of 4 keys corresponding to the appropriately colored square immediately after observing it. In the first day subjects practiced 8 motor blocks with a retention test consisted of 2 patterned blocks, 48 hours later. Before test, the subjects were told the order of random and patterned blocks, and then RT values were calculated for each block and K-S test, paired T test and independent-samples t-test were used to analyse the measured blocks times. Results: The patient groups performed this task slower than healthy groups (P<0.05). Blocks time difference between the first block and tenth block, were significant in both groups (P<0.05). But Explicit motor learning in healthy subjects was higher than patient groups (P<0.05). Conclusion: Although patient groups performed this task slower than healthy subjects, there was motor learning in RRMS patient but this explicit motor learning was less than healthy matched subjects.