Rapid stabilization of implicit motor memory after learning

After learning, memory must be stabilized before it becomes disrupted by subsequent learning. It is still unclear that how long it takes for new learnings to disruptprevious ones. Here in, the question of the present study was that learning a perceptual task would disrupt or interfere with the consolidation of the previously learned alternative motor sequence task, and what is the time interval between two tasks for maximum possible effect.
A number of 38 volunteers performed Serial Color Matching task for three blocks of 150 trials, then they randomly divided into three groups: 1) took part in perceptual task after one hour 2) took part in perceptual task after six hours 3) no extra task. All groups participated in retention test after 24 hours.
The results showed no significant differences between acquisition or retention of the previously learned motor task among groups.
These findings indicate rapid stabilization of implicit motor memory immediately after learning, in which time or learning a perceptual new task will not affect it.