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Effects of Long-term Diving Training on Cortical Gyrification
Yuanchao Zhang1,2, Lu Zhao2, Wenwei Bi1
1Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China.
Scientific Reports
|June 21, 2016
Summary
Long-term intensive diving training may reduce cortical gyrification (brain folding) in elite athletes. This brain structure change, linked to synaptic pruning, may underlie their exceptional diving performance.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Human Physiology
- Sports Science
Background:
- Cortical gyrification follows an inverted U-shaped curve during development, influenced by synaptic overproduction and pruning.
- Postnatal experiences can refine neural wiring, potentially altering cortical gyrification as an endophenotype.
- Elite diving experts, with early and intensive training, offer a model to study training-related gyrification changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of long-term intensive diving training on cortical gyrification.
- To explore the relationship between years of training and cortical gyrification in diving experts.
- To analyze the network efficiency of structural cortical networks in relation to gyrification.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of cortical gyrification using the local gyrification index (LGI) between 12 diving experts and 12 controls.
- Correlation analysis between LGI and years of diving training in experts.
- Exploratory network efficiency analysis of structural cortical networks derived from LGI interregional correlations.
Main Results:
- Diving experts exhibited widespread LGI reductions in brain regions associated with diving performance compared to controls.
- A negative correlation was found between LGI and years of diving training among experts.
- Global and local network efficiency remained comparable between diving experts and controls.
Conclusions:
- Reduced cortical gyrification in diving experts may result from long-term intensive training.
- This reduction could reflect refined neural circuitry through synaptic pruning.
- Altered gyrification may represent an anatomical basis for elite diving performance.
