title: Volumetric analysis of cerebellum in short-track speed skating players.
abstract: The cerebellum is associated with balance control and coordination, which might be important for gliding on smooth ice at high speeds. A number of case studies have shown that cerebellar damage induces impaired balance and coordination. As a positive model, therefore, we investigated whether plastic changes in the volumes of cerebellar subregions occur in short-track speed skating players who must have extraordinary abilities of balance and coordination, using three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging volumetry. The manual tracing was performed and the volumes of cerebellar hemisphere and vermian lobules were compared between short-track speed skating players (n=16) and matched healthy controls (n=18). We found larger right cerebellar hemisphere volume and vermian lobules VI-VII (declive, folium, and tuber) in short-track speed skating players in comparison with the matched controls. The finding suggests that the specialized abilities of balance and coordination are associated with structural plasticity of the right hemisphere of cerebellum and vermian VI-VII and these regions play an essential role in balance and coordination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Korea University College of Medicine, 126-1 Anam-dong 5-ga, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 136-705, South Korea.
authors.forename: In Sung
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Nam Joon
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Tae-Young
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin-Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Yu-Mi
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Won
authors.forename: Yong-Ju
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Jin-Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Im Joo
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Rhyu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D012861:Skating / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult