Cingulate and striatal hubs are linked to early skill learning

Early skill learning develops in the context of activity changes in distributed cortico-subcortical regions. Here, we investigated network hubs--centers of information integration and transmission--within the brain network supporting early skill learning. We recorded magnetoencephalographic (MEG) brain activity in healthy human subjects who learned a moderately difficult sequence skill with their non-dominant left hand. We then computed network hub strength by summing top 10% functional connectivity over 86 parcellated brain regions (AAL3 atlas) and five brain oscillatory frequency bands (alpha, low-, high-beta, low- and high-gamma). Virtually all skill gains developed during rest intervals of early learning (micro-offline gains). MEG hub strength in the alpha band (8-13Hz) in bilateral anterior cingulate (ACC) and caudate and in the low-beta band (13-16Hz) in bilateral caudate and right putamen correlated with micro-offline gains. These regions linked strongly with the hippocampus, parahippocampal cortex, and lingual and fusiform gyri. Thus, alpha and low-beta brain oscillatory activity in cingulate and striatal regions appear to contribute as hubs of information integration and transmission during early skill learning. Significance StatementEarly learning of moderately difficult skill sequences develops over periods of rest interspersed with practice (micro-offline gains). We demonstrate here a link between alpha and low-beta oscillatory activity in a cingulate-hippocampo-striato network hubs and rest intervals of early learning.