title: Sculpting the Intrinsic Modular Organization of Spontaneous Brain Activity by Art.
abstract: Artistic training is a complex learning that requires the meticulous orchestration of sophisticated polysensory, motor, cognitive, and emotional elements of mental capacity to harvest an aesthetic creation. In this study, we investigated the architecture of the resting-state functional connectivity networks from professional painters, dancers and pianists. Using a graph-based network analysis, we focused on the art-related changes of modular organization and functional hubs in the resting-state functional connectivity network. We report that the brain architecture of artists consists of a hierarchical modular organization where art-unique and artistic form-specific brain states collectively mirror the mind states of virtuosos. We show that even in the resting state, this type of extraordinary and long-lasting training can macroscopically imprint a neural network system of spontaneous activity in which the related brain regions become functionally and topologically modularized in both domain-general and domain-specific manners. The attuned modularity reflects a resilient plasticity nurtured by long-term experience.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, School of Dentistry, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Shu
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wei-Yuan
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chia-Feng
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.forename: Tzong-Ching
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Yu-Te
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Tianzi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Jen-Chuen
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hsieh
mesh_terms: D001154:Art; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D003615:Dancing; D006801:Humans; D009146:Music; D009415:Nerve Net; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D010151:Paintings