EXPRESS: Reduced Learning Rates but Successful Learning of a Coordinated Rhythmic Movement by Older Adults

Previous work has investigated the information-based mechanism for learning and transfer of learning in coordinated rhythmic movement (Leach, Kolokotroni & Wilson, 2021a, b). In those papers, we trained young adults to produce either 90° or 60° and showed in both cases that learning entailed learning to use relative position as the information for relative phase. This variable then supported transfer of learning to untrained coordinations +/30° on either side. In this paper, we replicate the 90° study with younger adults and extend it by training older adults (aged between 55 and 65). Other work (e.g. Coats, Wilson, Snapp-Childs, Fath, & Bingham, 2014) has revealed a steep decline in learning rate around this age, and no follow-up study has been able to successfully train older adults to perform a novel coordination. We used a more intensive training paradigm and showed that while older adult learning rates remain about half that of younger adults, given time they are able to acquire the new coordination. They also learn to use relative position, and consequently show the same pattern of transfer. We discuss implications for attempts to model the process of learning in this task.