Figure 1

Study design. (A) Sequential finger tapping task. A sequence initially trained on the first experimental day (T-Seq, left panel) and a novel sequence used during the interfering training on the second day (Int-Seq, right panel). The two sequences were matched for number of movements per digit and mirror-reversed in relation to each other (in terms of order). (B) Experimental groups. On Day1, all groups underwent training on the T-Seq consisted of 14 performance blocks. On Day2, 55 participants underwent reactivation experience performing T-Seq (React, 1 block) and then were assigned either to an immediate interference group, an 8-hour interference group or a no interference group (ReactInt, React8hInt and ReactNoInt group, respectively). The interference was introduced behaviorally in a form of training on another (novel) sequence (Int-Seq). On Day3, performance for the T-Seq was tested in all groups using 7 performance blocks. In all sessions, performance blocks consisted of 60 key-presses, equivalent to 12 possible 5-element sequences, and were separated by 25-second periods of rest.