title: Learning in the fast lane: new insights into neuroplasticity.
abstract: The timescale of structural remodeling that accompanies functional neuroplasticity is largely unknown. Although structural remodeling of human brain tissue is known to occur following long-term (weeks) acquisition of a new skill, little is known as to what happens structurally when the brain needs to adopt new sequences of procedural rules or memorize a cascade of events within minutes or hours. Using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), an MRI-based framework, we examined subjects before and after a spatial learning and memory task. Microstructural changes (as reflected by DTI measures) of limbic system structures (hippocampus and parahippocampus) were significant after only 2 hr of training. This observation was also found in a supporting rat study. We conclude that cellular rearrangement of neural tissue can be detected by DTI, and that this modality may allow neuroplasticity to be localized over short timescales.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel.
authors.forename: Yaniv
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sagi
authors.forename: Ido
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tavor
authors.forename: Shir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hofstetter
authors.forename: Shimrit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tzur-Moryosef
authors.forename: Tamar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Blumenfeld-Katzir
authors.forename: Yaniv
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Assaf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D016880:Anisotropy; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D018910:Video Games; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins