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Glutamate Mediated Actions on Trace Memory: A Trimodal MRS-EEG-fMRI Imaging Study on Motor Sequence Learning

Title:

Glutamate Mediated Actions on Trace Memory: A Trimodal MRS-EEG-fMRI Imaging Study on Motor Sequence Learning

Panahi Moghada Namini, Shima ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2164-3627 (2024) Glutamate Mediated Actions on Trace Memory: A Trimodal MRS-EEG-fMRI Imaging Study on Motor Sequence Learning. Masters thesis, Concordia University.

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Abstract

Investigating motor memory formation and consolidation is a central endeavor of contemporary neuroscience as it helps to understand motor skill learning as well as how to treat its related deficits. Evidence from the current research shows that a short exposure to a motor skill learning task creates modifications in the neurophysiological and hemodynamical processes in the task-related brain areas which are considered as formation of new memory representations. These modifications occur mainly through excitatory-inhibitory synaptic changes which are partly associated with the modulation of glutamate (the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system). Memory representations are susceptible to interference and can be diminished easily unless protected by a subsequent nap or overnight sleep in which the task-related neuronal activity will reappear and elicit plasticity. Eventually, behavioral enhancement can be expected after memory consolidation.
To further explain the motor skill learning in terms of the task-induced electrical, hemodynamic and metabolite activity of the human brain, we conducted a non-invasive study using multimodal brain imaging techniques under a motor sequence learning task whereby we could analyze the relationship between resting state spatiotemporal neuronal activity and the glutamate variations during one sleep-wake cycle. In this work, we demonstrated a conditional relationship between the dynamics of resting-state electrical activity and glutamate concentrations. This relationship was found in diurnal glutamate variations and Electroencephalography in the targeted Supplementary Motor Area in low gamma band (30-55Hz, p-value = 0.006) and overall band (0.5-55Hz, p-value = 0.014) as well as other motor network areas.

Divisions:Concordia University > Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science > Electrical and Computer Engineering
Item Type:Thesis (Masters)
Authors:Panahi Moghada Namini, Shima
Institution:Concordia University
Degree Name:M.A. Sc.
Program:Electrical and Computer Engineering
Date:7 October 2024
Thesis Supervisor(s):Benali, Habib
Keywords:Glutamate, motor sequence learning, MSL, EEG, memory traces, memory representations, motor memory formation, longitudinal neuronal activity
ID Code:994723
Deposited By: Shima Panahi Moghadam Namini
Deposited On:17 Jun 2025 17:22
Last Modified:17 Jun 2025 17:22

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