Neural Mechanisms Underlying Human Motor Control and Skill Learning

Research output: Book/ReportPh.D. thesis

  • Patrick Wiegel
One of the most intriguing features of the nervous system is motor output. Movements are controlled by numerous, interconnected nerve cells that are distributed across the nervous system.

During the past several decades, substantial technological and methodological advances in the neurosciences have allowed to investigate how the nervous system controls motor output. However, knowledge on the neural mechanisms underlying control and learning of movements in humans is still limited.

This PhD thesis aims to add scientific evidence on the neural mechanisms underlying human motor control and skill learning. For this purpose, the studies of this PhD project applied non-invasive electrophysiological techniques such as brain stimulation and electroencephalography while human participants performed a variety of motor tasks.

The studies of this thesis focused on the i) neural circuits of the motor cortex engaged in the performance of discrete and rhythmic movements, ii) the neural circuits of the motor cortex involved in learning a spatiotemporal motor skill and iii) the neural mechanisms underlying reinforcement-based motor learning.
Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationCopenhagen
PublisherDepartment of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen
Number of pages162
Publication statusPublished - 2021

    Research areas

  • Faculty of Science - Neural mechanisms, Motor skills, Control, Learning, Human participants

ID: 281807010