RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Dynamic Properties of Human Brain Structure: Learning-Related Changes in Cortical Areas and Associated Fiber Connections
JF The Journal of Neuroscience
JO J. Neurosci.
FD Society for Neuroscience
SP 11670
OP 11677
DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2567-10.2010
VO 30
IS 35
A1 Taubert, Marco
A1 Draganski, Bogdan
A1 Anwander, Alfred
A1 Müller, Karsten
A1 Horstmann, Annette
A1 Villringer, Arno
A1 Ragert, Patrick
YR 2010
UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/30/35/11670.abstract
AB Recent findings in neuroscience suggest that adult brain structure changes in response to environmental alterations and skill learning. Whereas much is known about structural changes after intensive practice for several months, little is known about the effects of single practice sessions on macroscopic brain structure and about progressive (dynamic) morphological alterations relative to improved task proficiency during learning for several weeks. Using T1-weighted and diffusion tensor imaging in humans, we demonstrate significant gray matter volume increases in frontal and parietal brain areas following only two sessions of practice in a complex whole-body balancing task. Gray matter volume increase in the prefrontal cortex correlated positively with subject's performance improvements during a 6 week learning period. Furthermore, we found that microstructural changes of fractional anisotropy in corresponding white matter regions followed the same temporal dynamic in relation to task performance. The results make clear how marginal alterations in our ever changing environment affect adult brain structure and elucidate the interrelated reorganization in cortical areas and associated fiber connections in correlation with improvements in task performance.