title: Rapid and specific gray matter changes in M1 induced by balance training.
abstract: Training-induced changes in cortical structure can be observed non-invasively with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). While macroscopic changes were found mainly after weeks to several months of training in humans, imaging of motor cortical networks in animals revealed rapid microstructural alterations after a few hours of training. We used MRI to test the hypothesis of immediate and specific training-induced alterations in motor cortical gray matter in humans. We found localized increases in motor cortical thickness after 1h of practice in a complex balancing task. These changes were specific to motor cortical effector representations primarily responsible for balance control in our task (lower limb and trunk) and these effects could be confirmed in a replication study. Cortical thickness changes (i) linearly increased across the training session, (ii) occurred independent of alterations in resting cerebral blood flow and (iii) were not triggered by repetitive use of the lower limbs. Our findings show that motor learning triggers rapid and specific gray matter changes in M1.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Max-Planck-Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany. Electronic address: taubert@cbs.mpg.de.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taubert
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Max-Planck-Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany; Department of Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mehnert
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Max-Planck-Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany; Department of Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Burkhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pleger
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Max-Planck-Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany; Department of Cognitive Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Mind and Brain Institute at Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Charite´ and Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Arno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Villringer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D066128:Gray Matter / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D064797:Physical Conditioning, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
keywords: Balance; Cortical thickness; Learning; MRI; Plasticity; Rapid