Dopamine increases accuracy and lengthens deliberation time in explicit motor skill learning

Although animal research implicates a central role for dopamine in motor skill learning, a direct causal link has yet to be established in neurotypical humans. Here, we tested if a pharmacological manipulation of dopamine alters motor learning, using a paradigm which engaged explicit, goal-directed strategies. Participants (27 females, 11 males, aged 18-29 years) first consumed either 100mg of Levodopa (n=19), a dopamine precursor that increases dopamine availability, or placebo (n=19). Then, during training, participants learnt the explicit strategy of aiming away from presented targets by instructed angles of varying sizes. Targets shifted mid-movement by the instructed aiming angle. Task success was thus contingent upon aiming accuracy. The effect of the dopamine manipulations on skill learning was assessed during training, and at an overnight follow-up. Increasing dopamine availability improved aiming accuracy and lengthened reaction times, particularly for larger, more difficult aiming angles, both at training, and at follow-up. Results support the proposal that dopamine is important in decisions to engage instrumental motivation to optimise performance, particularly when learning to execute goal-directed strategies in motor skill learning.