The relationship between working memory capacity and cortical activity during performance of a novel motor task

This study assessed whether individual differences in working memory capacity influenced verbal-analytical processes when performing a novel motor skill. Participants performed a tennis-hitting task in two conditions: no pressure and high-pressure. Eighteen young adults participated in the study. EEG coherence between the T3-F3 and T4-F4 regions in the Beta1 and Alpha2 frequencies was recorded during performance in each condition. Verbal and visuo-spatial working memory capacity were assessed using the Automated Working Memory Assessment. No differences were found between the two conditions for hitting performance and EEG activity. However, across both conditions, verbal and visuo-spatial working memory were significant predictors of EEG coherence between the T3-F3 and T4-F4 regions in the Beta1 and Alpha2 frequencies. Larger verbal working memory capacity was associated with greater coherence while the opposite trend was observed for visuo-spatial working memory capacity. These results indicate that larger verbal working memory capacity is associated with a greater tendency to use explicit processes during motor performance, whereas larger visuo-spatial working memory capacity is associated more with implicit processes. The findings are discussed with relevance to the theory of implicit motor learning. •Examined EEG coherence in the Beta1 and Alpha2 frequencies during motor performance.•Larger verbal WMC was associated with greater T3-F3 coherence.•Verbal working memory was therefore linked with explicit processes.•Larger visuo-spatial WMC was associated with reduced T3-F3 coherence.•Visuo-spatial working memory was theorized to facilitate implicit processes.