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Greater cerebellar gray matter volume in car drivers: an exploratory voxel-based morphometry study
Hiroyuki Sakai1, Takafumi Ando1, Norihiro Sadato2
1Human Science Research Domain, Toyota Central R&D Laboratories, Inc., Nagakute, Aichi 480-1192, Japan.
Scientific Reports
|April 19, 2017
Summary
Everyday car driving experience is linked to increased gray matter volume in the left cerebellar hemisphere. This finding suggests the cerebellum plays a role in cognitive abilities crucial for real-world driving.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neuroimaging
- Brain Morphology
Background:
- Previous studies explored brain activity during simulated driving.
- Limited research investigated brain structure differences linked to real-world driving experience.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify gray matter volume differences between car drivers and non-drivers.
- To investigate the neural correlates of everyday driving experience in real traffic.
Main Methods:
- Collected T1-weighted structural brain images from 73 healthy young adults (36 drivers, 37 non-drivers).
- Utilized whole-brain voxel-based morphometry to compare regional gray matter volume between groups.
Main Results:
- Drivers exhibited significantly greater gray matter volume in the left cerebellar hemisphere compared to non-drivers.
- No significant gray matter volume increases were found in non-drivers relative to drivers.
Conclusions:
- Real-world car driving experience is associated with structural brain changes, specifically in the left cerebellum.
- The left cerebellum's enhanced gray matter volume in drivers may support cognitive functions essential for driving but less utilized in other daily activities.