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The Specific Influence of Continuous Theta-Burst Stimulation of the Primary Motor Cortex on Novel Vocabulary Acquisition in Different Learning Environments

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Abstract

The primary motor cortex takes part in various stages of language learning accompanied by human motor activity. However, previous studies of causal relationships between the activation of the primary motor cortex (M1) and the efficiency of language tasks reveal contradictory results, likely due to different learning environments and specific movement patterns required by different experimental designs. The goal of this research was to comprehensively investigate the effect of rhythmic theta-burst magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the primary motor cortex on the acquisition of new words while modulating the learning environment and the motor response during the learning process. Following rTMS of the primary motor cortex or control conditions (sham and active control rTMS), the subjects (n = 96) completed a novel word learning task, which involved associating visually presented objects with spoken word forms using a virtual reality (VR) or conventional computer monitor environment. In each environment, the subjects were exposed to eight novel words embedded into questions about visual stimulus properties to prompt novel associations. Responses to these questions could be performed either by distal or by proximal hand movements. The outcome of the word acquisition was measured using a free recall task immediately after the training and on the next day. The results showed significant differences in the success of recalling new words immediately after the learning session and on the next day only in those subjects who received rTMS of the primary motor cortex; furthermore, this effect was specific to proximal movements in both learning environments. The results suggest that the motor cortex is directly involved in acquiring novel vocabulary during active interaction with the learning material.

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Funding

The study was supported by the grant of the President of the Russian Federation for the state support of young Russian scientists—candidates of sciences no. 075-15-2021-355 (project MK-2021.2021.2).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Saint Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia

    E. I. Perikova, E. N. Blinova, E. A. Andriushchenko, E. D. Blagovechtchenski & O. V. Shcherbakova

  2. Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia

    E. D. Blagovechtchenski

  3. Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark

    Y. Y. Shtyrov

Authors
  1. E. I. Perikova
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  2. E. N. Blinova
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  3. E. A. Andriushchenko
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  4. E. D. Blagovechtchenski
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  5. O. V. Shcherbakova
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  6. Y. Y. Shtyrov
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Correspondence to E. I. Perikova.

Ethics declarations

Ethical standards. All studies were carried out in accordance with the principles of biomedical ethics formulated in the Declaration of Helsinki of 1964 and its subsequent updates and approved by the Ethics Committee of the St. Petersburg Psychological Society (St. Petersburg) (protocol No. 9 of 07.10.2021).

Informed consent. Each participant in the study provided a voluntary written informed consent signed by him after explaining to him the potential risks and benefits, as well as the nature of the upcoming study.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare the absence of obvious and potential conflicts of interest related to the publication of this article.

Contribution of authors to the publication. E.I. Perikova developed the design of the study, collected and analyzed the data obtained, and wrote the text of the manuscript; E.N. Blinova collected and and analyzed data, coordinated the research, and designed the manuscript; E.A. Andryushchenko collected and and analyzed data, coordinated the research, and designed the manuscript; E.D. Blagovechtchenski took part in the planning of the study and editing the article; O.V. Shcherbakova participated in the development of stimulus material and editing the article; Y.Y. Shtyrov came up with the idea, developed the design, coordinated the research, developed the article concept, and edited the article.

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Translated by A. Deryabina

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Perikova, E.I., Blinova, E.N., Andriushchenko, E.A. et al. The Specific Influence of Continuous Theta-Burst Stimulation of the Primary Motor Cortex on Novel Vocabulary Acquisition in Different Learning Environments. Hum Physiol 49, 289–297 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S036211972370024X

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