Neural correlates of internal versus external focussing of attention during movement execution and learning

Focussing attention on internal (e.g. joint posture, skin perception, etc) or external (e.g. button to be pressed) cues has an impact on the learning and execution of sequences of motor actions. Several studies have shown that instructions directing the performer's attention towards the environmental consequences of the movement (external focus) facilitate performance and learning compared to those directing attention to the movements themselves (internal focus). We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the neural correlates underlying internal and external focusing of attention while subjects learned and performed sequential button-presses of four buttons at a required pace (indicated by an auditory cue).

The analysis of behavioural data showed a significant difference in the anticipation of responses, with participants being closer to pace in the 'internal' condition. Both task conditions elicited hemodynamic activity in several areas of the motor system previously associated with motor learning and movement execution. Contrasting the internal with the external focussing of attention revealed increases of activity in the left dorsolateral prefrontal, lateral frontal cortex (ventrolateral premotor cortex), in the bilateral superior frontal gyrus (supplementary motor cortex), transversal temporal gyri (primary auditory cortex) and superior temporal sulcus. The external focus of attention compared to the internal elicited stronger activations in the medial prefrontal, middle frontal cortex, at the parieto-occipital junction of the left postcentral gyrus (primary sensory cortex) and in the right intraparietal sulcus. These findings show that motor learning/execution with internal vs. external attentional focussing have different neural correlates, indicative of distinct functional networks involved in the processing.