Training on multiple days results in better learning in embedded eyeblink conditioning in young human adults

Abstract Eyeblink conditioning is mediated by similar cerebellar pathways in humans and animals and is typically investigated using delay or trace protocols. These studies show that humans can easily acquire eyeblink conditioning within a single day of training whereas animals usually require around...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Robert Winton, Meenam Pious, Anders Rasmussen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:npj Science of Learning
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-025-00347-w
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849344385170276352
author Robert Winton
Meenam Pious
Anders Rasmussen
author_facet Robert Winton
Meenam Pious
Anders Rasmussen
author_sort Robert Winton
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Eyeblink conditioning is mediated by similar cerebellar pathways in humans and animals and is typically investigated using delay or trace protocols. These studies show that humans can easily acquire eyeblink conditioning within a single day of training whereas animals usually require around 3–10 days of acquisition training before they consistently exhibit conditioned responses. We aimed to study how a multiple-day acquisition training, across 3 non-consecutive days of a month, with 100 trials per day affected learning in young human adults. We employed an embedded protocol in which the US is embedded within the CS duration without co-termination. Our findings show, for the first time in humans using this protocol, that learning improves substantially on days 2 and 3. Our findings encourage research into how human cerebellum mediates consolidation across several days of eyeblink conditioning as well as into the neurocognitive mechanisms of the relatively underexplored embedded eyeblink conditioning protocol.
format Article
id doaj-art-fb03e51b20434a8fb6ca74c5103f5d13
institution Kabale University
issn 2056-7936
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series npj Science of Learning
spelling doaj-art-fb03e51b20434a8fb6ca74c5103f5d132025-08-20T03:42:40ZengNature Portfolionpj Science of Learning2056-79362025-08-011011710.1038/s41539-025-00347-wTraining on multiple days results in better learning in embedded eyeblink conditioning in young human adultsRobert Winton0Meenam Pious1Anders Rasmussen2Associative Learning Lab, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Lund UniversityAssociative Learning Lab, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Lund UniversityAssociative Learning Lab, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Lund UniversityAbstract Eyeblink conditioning is mediated by similar cerebellar pathways in humans and animals and is typically investigated using delay or trace protocols. These studies show that humans can easily acquire eyeblink conditioning within a single day of training whereas animals usually require around 3–10 days of acquisition training before they consistently exhibit conditioned responses. We aimed to study how a multiple-day acquisition training, across 3 non-consecutive days of a month, with 100 trials per day affected learning in young human adults. We employed an embedded protocol in which the US is embedded within the CS duration without co-termination. Our findings show, for the first time in humans using this protocol, that learning improves substantially on days 2 and 3. Our findings encourage research into how human cerebellum mediates consolidation across several days of eyeblink conditioning as well as into the neurocognitive mechanisms of the relatively underexplored embedded eyeblink conditioning protocol.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-025-00347-w
spellingShingle Robert Winton
Meenam Pious
Anders Rasmussen
Training on multiple days results in better learning in embedded eyeblink conditioning in young human adults
npj Science of Learning
title Training on multiple days results in better learning in embedded eyeblink conditioning in young human adults
title_full Training on multiple days results in better learning in embedded eyeblink conditioning in young human adults
title_fullStr Training on multiple days results in better learning in embedded eyeblink conditioning in young human adults
title_full_unstemmed Training on multiple days results in better learning in embedded eyeblink conditioning in young human adults
title_short Training on multiple days results in better learning in embedded eyeblink conditioning in young human adults
title_sort training on multiple days results in better learning in embedded eyeblink conditioning in young human adults
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-025-00347-w
work_keys_str_mv AT robertwinton trainingonmultipledaysresultsinbetterlearninginembeddedeyeblinkconditioninginyounghumanadults
AT meenampious trainingonmultipledaysresultsinbetterlearninginembeddedeyeblinkconditioninginyounghumanadults
AT andersrasmussen trainingonmultipledaysresultsinbetterlearninginembeddedeyeblinkconditioninginyounghumanadults