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Dynamic gray matter changes within cortex and striatum after short motor skill training are associated with their
Farsin Hamzei1, Volkmar Glauche, Ralf Schwarzwald
1Neurological Rehabilitation Section, Department of Neurology, University Clinic Jena, Germany. farsin.hamzei@moritz-klinik.de
Neuroimage
|November 24, 2011
Summary
Short motor training rapidly induces gray matter changes in motor areas and the striatum. These structural changes are linked to increased functional connectivity between the cortex and striatum during skill acquisition.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
- Motor Learning
Background:
- Previous studies show gray matter (GM) changes after extended learning or stimulation.
- The early time course of training-induced GM changes remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate GM changes following brief, intensive motor training sessions.
- To explore the relationship between functional activity and GM changes during motor skill acquisition.
Main Methods:
- Daily T1-weighted MRI scans were acquired during four 30-minute training sessions.
- Functional MRI (fMRI) was used to assess functional connectivity.
- Motor skill performance was tested post-training.
Main Results:
- Increased GM was observed in motor cortical areas (dorsal premotor cortex, supplementary motor area) and the inferior parietal lobule post-training.
- An early GM increase in the right ventral striatum was detected one day prior to the main training period.
- Functional coupling between the striatum and cortex increased throughout the training period.
Conclusions:
- Brief motor training induces rapid GM plasticity in relevant brain regions.
- Early changes in the striatum are functionally coupled with later cortical changes related to motor skill performance.
- This study highlights the dynamic interplay between structural plasticity and functional connectivity during motor learning.
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