Research Projects

Information sequencing is a fundamental human ability that allows individuals to learn regularities in their environment. Sequence learning, which involves responding to stimuli following a specific sequence, has been studied in motor learning paradigms like Serial Reaction Times Task, Discrete Sequence Production, and Grid-Navigation Task. The proposed study aims to study the brain mechanisms involved in the shift from implicit to explicit knowledge acquired during practicing a sequence of movements using a combination of behavioral and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) techniques. The objectives include investigating the influence of response-to-stimulus interval (RSI) on sequence knowledge transition, the role of high arousing conditions in facilitating explicit sequence knowledge formation, and the brain areas associated with the modulation of sequence learning switching from implicit to explicit with changing arousal conditions. The study will use behavioral and fMRI methodologies to investigate the influence of RSI on sequence learning. The behavioral hypothesis is that if RSI affects attentional processing, learning will be slower and implicit with shorter RSIs, and an oppositive pattern will emerge with longer RSIs. The fMRI experiment will test if the influence of emotion arousal activates emotion and attention-related brain differently in different arousal conditions. The study will also assess the learned sequence knowledge and confidence ratings as in experiment-1.