Although experience-dependent structural changes have been found in adult gray matter, there is little evidence for such changes in white matter. Using diffusion imaging, we detected a localized increase in fractional anisotropy, a measure of microstructure, in white matter underlying the intraparietal sulcus following training of a complex visuo-motor skill. This provides, to the best of our knowledge, the first evidence for training-related changes in white-matter structure in the healthy human adult brain.
Journal article
Nat Neurosci
11/2009
12
1370 - 1371
Adolescent, Adult, Anisotropy, Brain, Brain Mapping, Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Female, Hand Strength, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Male, Movement, Neuronal Plasticity, Psychomotor Performance, Teaching, Time Factors, Young Adult