title: Rapid changes in brain structure predict improvements induced by perceptual learning.
abstract: Practice-dependent changes in brain structure can occur in task relevant brain regions as a result of extensive training in complex motor tasks and long-term cognitive training but little is known about the impact of visual perceptual learning on brain structure. Here we studied the effect of five days of visual perceptual learning in a motion-color conjunction search task using anatomical MRI. We found rapid changes in gray matter volume in the right posterior superior temporal sulcus, an area sensitive to coherently moving stimuli, that predicted the degree to which an individual's performance improved with training. Furthermore, behavioral improvements were also predicted by volumetric changes in an extended white matter region underlying the visual cortex. These findings point towards quick and efficient plastic neural mechanisms that enable the visual brain to deal effectively with changing environmental demands.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, 17 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AR, United Kingdom. Electronic address: thomas.ditye@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ditye
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, 17 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AR, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ryota
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kanai
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, 17 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AR, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Bahador
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bahrami
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, 17 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AR, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Neil G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Muggleton
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, 17 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AR, United Kingdom; Wellcome Trust Center for Neuroimaging, University College London, 12 Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Geraint
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, 17 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AR, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cortical volume; Perceptual learning; Plasticity; Superior temporal sulcus; Visual search; White matter