Humans have the ability to flexibly adapt to diverse environmental changes and acquire new motor skills through learning. The speed at which these skills are acquired varies from person to person. Previous studies have reported that EEG theta oscillation in the 4–8 Hz range, known as FMT, observed in the medial frontal cortex before movement onset, increase in power with learning. However, the extent to which FMT power modulation accounts for individual differences in motor learning proficiency rate has remained unclear.

This study aimed to clarify the neural mechanisms underlying individual differences in motor learning proficiency rate by measuring EEG during a visual tracking motor learning task and conducting further analyses. Participants were instructed to follow a target on a computer screen using a cursor (Fig. 1, left). The cursor was controlled by vertically pressing two force sensors, with sensor sensitivity partially altered between sessions. This setup required participants to learn the movement in each session, enabling a quantitative evaluation of the time needed to master a new motor skill (i.e., learning proficiency rate) for each individual.

Scalp EEG data recorded during the task were analysed, with a specific focus on the modulation of FMT power prior to movement onset. A neural correlation analysis was also conducted using learning speed indicators. Participants who exhibited greater modulation of FMT power immediately before movement onset adapted more quickly to the new movement pattern. A significant positive correlation was found between FMT power and learning proficiency rate (Fig. 1, right). These findings suggest that increased neural activity in the medial frontal cortex during the preparatory phase prior to movement onset may contribute to more efficient motor learning.

This study demonstrated that FMT power modulation immediately prior to movement onset is significantly correlated with the speed of acquiring a new motor skill. This finding suggests that FMT power may serve as a neural indicator of learning efficiency. Future research will aim to investigate the causal relationship underlying this correlation by employing methods such as neurofeedback and transcranial magnetic stimulation, which can intentionally modulate FMT activity, to further elucidate the underlying mechanisms.