Training induces changes in white-matter architecture.
Although experience-dependent structural changes have been found in adult gray matter, there is little evidence for such changes in white matter. Using diffusion imaging, we detected a localized increase in fractional anisotropy, a measure of microstructure, in white matter underlying the intraparietal sulcus following training of a complex visuo-motor skill. This provides, to the best of our knowledge, the first evidence for training-related changes in white-matter structure in the healthy human adult brain.
Scholz
Jan
J
Oxford Centre for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain, Oxford, UK. jscholz@fmrib.ox.ac.uk
Klein
Miriam C
MC
Behrens
Timothy E J
TE
Johansen-Berg
Heidi
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016880:Anisotropy; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D013663:Teaching; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult