A simple 100% normobaric oxygen treatment can substantially enhance sequence learning processes

Zheng Wang; Guillaume Spielmann; Neil Johannsen; Frank Greenway; Brian A Irving; Marc Dalecki

doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114658

A simple 100% normobaric oxygen treatment can substantially enhance sequence learning processes

Behav Brain Res. 2023 Oct 18:455:114658. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114658. Epub 2023 Sep 9.

Authors

Zheng Wang¹, Guillaume Spielmann², Neil Johannsen², Frank Greenway³, Brian A Irving², Marc Dalecki⁴

Affiliations

¹ Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, U.S.; Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, U.S.
² Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, U.S.; Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, U.S.
³ Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, U.S.
⁴ Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, U.S.; German University of Health and Sports, Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: marc.dalecki@dhgs-hochschule.de.

PMID: 37690702
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114658

Abstract

Motor learning processes are crucial for our everyday life, and improving skills by tailored interventions is of great clinical interest and value. Our previous work revealed a positive effect of normo-baric oxygen treatment on visuomotor adaptation. Here, we investigate whether it could positively affect sequence learning (SL) processes as well. Sixty-four healthy young adults were divided into a 100% oxygen treatment (NbOxTr; N = 32, M=20.7 ± 1.63 yrs.) and a normal air treatment (AirTr; N = 32, M=20.8 ± 0.95 yrs.) group. Participants performed a standardized SL task by pressing the spatial-compatible key on a keyboard according to four visual stimuli with two pre-determined 8-item sequences with different training depths. Following a baseline session (10 trials), both groups received a gas treatment (5 L/min, via nasal cannula) during the next training session (4 blocks, 45 trials each block), followed by a testing session (30 trials) without gas treatment. On day two, participants completed another 30 trials, similar to the first-day testing session, also without gas treatment. ANOVA revealed no significant group differences during baseline (p > 0.05) but a significantly faster response time (+45.5%) in the NbOxTr than AirTr group in the training session with gas treatment for all training depths (p < 0.05). The positive NbOxTr effect consolidated into the following testing session without gas treatment for deeply trained sequences (+17%; p < 0.05), and for all training depth on day-two testing (+45.2%; p < 0.05). Results suggest that the NbOxTr substantially improved participants' SL processing speed. Notably, improvements consolidated after an overnight sleep. The present work confirms a beneficial effect of a single, simple NbOxTr on fundamental motor learning processes. This treatment approach may provide promising implications for practice in neurological rehabilitation and other motor learning-related scenarios and should be further investigated in future research.

Keywords: Correctness rate; Oxygenation; Reaction time; Sequence learning.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Humans
Learning* / physiology
Motor Skills / physiology
Oxygen
Reaction Time / physiology
Sleep*
Young Adult

Substances

Oxygen