Abstract
Our previous studies have shown that motor learning is acquired faster with greater memory retention in hyper-gravity (G) environments for both goldfish and humans. This learning occurred during prism adaptation in humans, and oculomotor neural integrator (NI) adaptation in goldfish in which hyper-G was created by centrifugation. An augmented gravitation input would significantly increase vestibular input to both the goldfish and human cerebellum, in particular the vestibulocerebellum (VCB). Thus, an increase in Purkinje cell (Pkc) activity forms the basis of our working hypothesis for accelerated motor learning under hyper-G. In that event it should be possible to accelerate motor learning by using another stimulus that up-regulates Pkc activity as has been observed in the primate VCB (flocculus) in which Pkc exhibit higher dc firing rates in light than in dark. We conducted an experiment in goldfish using a white point to a black background (Darker stimulus) or black spot on a white background (Brighter stimuli). After two hours the learning curves of NI adaptation were compared and the brighter stimulus was found to induce significantly faster learning than the darker stimulus.
