Dynamic Properties of Human Brain Structure: Learning-Related Changes in Cortical Areas and Associated Fiber Connections

Abstract

Recent findings in neuroscience suggest that adult brain structure changes in response to environmental alterations and skill learning. Whereas much is known about structural changes after intensive practice for several months, little is known about the effects of single practice sessions on macroscopic brain structure and about progressive (dynamic) morphological alterations relative to improved task proficiency during learning for several weeks. Using T1-weighted and diffusion tensor imaging in humans, we demonstrate significant gray matter volume increases in frontal and parietal brain areas following only two sessions of practice in a complex whole-body balancing task. Gray matter volume increase in the prefrontal cortex correlated positively with subject's performance improvements during a 6 week learning period. Furthermore, we found that microstructural changes of fractional anisotropy in corresponding white matter regions followed the same temporal dynamic in relation to task performance. The results make clear how marginal alterations in our ever changing environment affect adult brain structure and elucidate the interrelated reorganization in cortical areas and associated fiber connections in correlation with improvements in task performance.

Brain microstructural correlates of visuospatial choice reaction time in children

“…A recent study of adults examined changes in DTI parameters in connection with 6 weeks of practice in a complex whole-body balancing task, observing negative correlations between improvements in motor performance and MD changes in bilateral anterior centrum semiovale, left brain stem, and right internal capsule. These findings were interpreted as learningrelated increases in cell density or axonal/dendritic arborization hindering the diffusion of water molecules (Taubert et al, 2010). Thus, the individual differences observed in the present study could reflect variability in sensorimotor experiences and skill acquisition of the children, which may have influenced the grey and white matter microstructure, e.g., cell density, axonal or dendritic arborization and/or myelination.…”

Strategy‐based reasoning training modulates cortical thickness and resting‐state functional connectivity in adults with chronic traumatic brain injury

“…We observed (1) nonmonotonic changes in the bilateral DLPFC, L SCG, R DPFC, and R AMPFC, (2) monotonic increases in the R POCG and R OCPL, and (3) monotonic decreases in the L PRCG, R MT+, and R APFC. Although the majority of the previous studies reported increases in cortical thickness or gray matter volume (Valkanova, Eguia Rodriguez, & Ebmeier, 2014), differences in directionality of cortical thickness and cortical volume changes across brain regions were also reported in several previous studies (Draganski et al., 2006; Maguire et al., 2000; Metzler‐Baddeley et al., 2016; Taubert et al., 2010). These diverse temporal trajectories of cortical thickness in both present and in previous studies demonstrate the complexity of brain plasticity.…”

“…MRI‐based morphometry has enabled us to noninvasively and quantitatively assess training‐induced structural changes in the healthy adult brain (Best, Chiu, Liang Hsu, Nagamatsu, & Liu‐Ambrose, 2015; Bezzola, Merillat, Gaser, & Jancke, 2011; Draganski et al., 2004, 2006; Engvig et al., 2010; Ilg et al., 2008; Kwok et al., 2011; Landi, Baguear, & Della‐Maggiore, 2011; Schmidt‐Wilcke, Rosengarth, Luerding, Bogdahn, & Greenlee, 2010; Takeuchi et al., 2011, 2014; Taubert et al., 2010; Woollett & Maguire, 2011). For example, Engvig et al.…”

“…While changes in morphometry following training can confirm that the adjustment of behavior modulates brain structure, the temporal patterns of training‐induced changes in morphometry are often complex. As such, the directionality of these changes has varied across previous studies (Draganski et al., 2006; Maguire et al., 2000; Metzler‐Baddeley, Caeyenberghs, Foley, & Jones, 2016; Taubert et al., 2010). RsFC can complement morphometry to better understand the complex patterns of changes occurring after training.…”

Studying neuroanatomy using MRI

“…Microstructural changes have even been detected using diffusion MRI within two hours of playing a video game 58 . Further work by multiple groups has shown that MRI can detect brain plasticity in motor coordination tasks 59 and musical training 60 amongst others. Intriguing as they are, these studies are not without some refutation and debate.…”