This study investigated whether wakeful targeted memory reactivation (TMR) during short rest intervals improves motor learning. Participants were randomly assigned to three groups and performed a sequential key-press task under each condition: (1) TMRregular group: auditory cues played at the same speed as the previous task, (2) TMRfast group: auditory cues played 1.3 times faster, and (3) TMRrandom group: auditory cues randomized in pitch. To examine the motor learning effect of cue structure, we compared motor learning across three groups (TMRregular, TMRfast, and TMRrandom). The TMRfast group enhanced early learning gains compared with the TMRregular group. Electroencephalogram data revealed stronger functional connectivity centered on the lateral orbitofrontal cortex (lOFC) in the TMRfast group than in the TMRregular group. Together, these findings suggest that wakeful TMR can enhance early motor learning depending on cue timing and structure, highlighting the importance of optimizing sensory parameters for learning improvement.
Kawasoe et al. (Mon,) studied this question.