Mapping Motor Learning Stages: A Longitudinal fNIRS-Based Assessment of Cortical Activation

Abstract

Here we describe a protocol to measure changes in cortical activation over stages of motor learning. Participants are recruited and assigned to either simple or complex motor tasks, performed using their non-dominant hand over 10 days. Motor performance is measured using the Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test, while cortical activation is assessed using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The primary goal is to assess how varying levels of task complexity affect motor learning and to characterize the corresponding neural activity. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) are used to establish marginal models for the statistical analysis of factors influencing motor learning. This protocol has potential use for therapeutic applications, particularly in neurological rehabilitation contexts, where the findings could help inform recovery protocols for patients with motor impairments, such as stroke survivors. By establishing a clear understanding of motor learning stages and associated brain activity, this research could guide the development of noninvasive brain stimulation techniques, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), in rehabilitative treatments. Beyond its therapeutic applications, use of this protocol may contribute to the broader understanding of how task complexity influences motor learning in real-world settings. © 2025 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Basic Protocol 1: Task design for motor learning and cortical activation

Basic Protocol 2: fNIRS set up and data collection

Support Protocol: Data analysis using GEE