Training induces changes in white matter architecture

Training induces changes in white matter architecture

2009 November | Jan Scholz¹, Miriam C. Klein¹, Timothy E.J. Behrens¹,², and Heidi Johansen-Berg¹
Training induces changes in white matter architecture in healthy adults. Using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), researchers found localized increases in fractional anisotropy (FA), a measure of white matter microstructure, in the intraparietal sulcus (IPS) after training in a complex visuo-motor skill, juggling. This is the first evidence of training-related changes in white matter structure in the human brain. The study compared gray matter changes using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and found increased gray matter density in the medial occipital and parietal regions. These changes were specific to the trained group and persisted after a four-week period without juggling. The results suggest that training leads to independent structural changes in white and gray matter. While structural changes did not strongly correlate with training progress or performance, they may be more related to the duration of training rather than the outcome. The study highlights the potential role of activity-dependent myelo-modulation in altering white matter properties. Although the biological mechanisms underlying these changes remain unclear, the findings suggest that experience can induce structural changes in the brain. Future studies using varied training regimes and longer observation periods are needed to better understand the complex dynamics of white and gray matter changes with learning. The study underscores the importance of combining neuroimaging techniques with cellular and biochemical methods to elucidate the biological basis of these changes.Training induces changes in white matter architecture in healthy adults. Using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), researchers found localized increases in fractional anisotropy (FA), a measure of white matter microstructure, in the intraparietal sulcus (IPS) after training in a complex visuo-motor skill, juggling. This is the first evidence of training-related changes in white matter structure in the human brain. The study compared gray matter changes using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and found increased gray matter density in the medial occipital and parietal regions. These changes were specific to the trained group and persisted after a four-week period without juggling. The results suggest that training leads to independent structural changes in white and gray matter. While structural changes did not strongly correlate with training progress or performance, they may be more related to the duration of training rather than the outcome. The study highlights the potential role of activity-dependent myelo-modulation in altering white matter properties. Although the biological mechanisms underlying these changes remain unclear, the findings suggest that experience can induce structural changes in the brain. Future studies using varied training regimes and longer observation periods are needed to better understand the complex dynamics of white and gray matter changes with learning. The study underscores the importance of combining neuroimaging techniques with cellular and biochemical methods to elucidate the biological basis of these changes.
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[slides and audio] Training induces changes in white matter architecture