White matter microstructure changes induced by motor skill learning utilizing a body machine interface.
The purpose of this study is to identify white matter microstructure changes following bilateral upper extremity motor skill training to increase our understanding of learning-induced structural plasticity and enhance clinical strategies in physical rehabilitation. Eleven healthy subjects performed two visuo-spatial motor training tasks over 9 sessions (2-3 sessions per week). Subjects controlled a cursor with bilateral simultaneous movements of the shoulders and upper arms using a body machine interface. Before the start and within 2days of the completion of training, whole brain diffusion tensor MR imaging data were acquired. Motor training increased fractional anisotropy (FA) values in the posterior and anterior limbs of the internal capsule, the corona radiata, and the body of the corpus callosum by 4.19% on average indicating white matter microstructure changes induced by activity-dependent modulation of axon number, axon diameter, or myelin thickness. These changes may underlie the functional reorganization associated with motor skill learning.
Department of Radiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
Xue
X
Wang
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Informatics, Bioengineering, Robotics and Systems Engineering, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.
Maura
M
Casadio
Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
Kenneth A
KA
Weber
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
Ferdinando A
FA
Mussa-Ivaldi
Department of Radiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA; Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA. Electronic address: toddp@northwestern.edu.
Todd B
TB
Parrish
D000328:Adult; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020772:Internal Capsule / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D066127:White Matter / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055815:Young Adult
Diffusion tensor imaging; Fractional anisotropy; Motor skill learning; White matter plasticity