Abstract
To better understand the process of neuroplasticity, this study assesses brain changes observed by voxel-based morphometry (VBM) in response to two different learning conditions. Twenty-two young, healthy subjects learned slacklining, a complex balancing task, with either their eyes open (EO, n = 11) or their eyes closed (EC, n = 11). The learning took place three times per week for four weeks, with learning periods of 1 hour, providing a total of 12 hours of learning. The scanning and testing protocols were applied at three time-points: (1) immediately before learning (baseline), (2) immediately afterwards (post-test), and (3) two months afterwards (follow-up). The EO group performed better on the task-specific test. Significant group*time interaction effects were found in sensory-motor areas at the post-test, with increases in the EO group only. The results suggest that VBM-observed brain changes in response to learning a complex balancing task vary depending on the learning success and the availability of visual input, and not solely on the amount of time spent on learning. These findings should be taken into account by future studies using similar methodologies.
Highlights
The training of balance-related activities leads to neuroanatomical changes [1] and to improvements in spatial orientation and balancing abilities [2], both of which are important for everyday life
Whilst the EO group trained with open eyes, visual input in the EC group was prevented by asking the participants to wear a mask (Mindfold Inc., Durango, CO, USA) for the whole duration of each training session
The most striking findings were very strong transient increases in bilateral sensory-motor areas in the EO group, with no effects in these areas for the EC group whatsoever. These changes were located in the paracentral lobules bilaterally, mainly in Brodmann’s areas 1 through 4
Summary
The training of balance-related activities leads to neuroanatomical changes [1] and to improvements in spatial orientation and balancing abilities [2], both of which are important for everyday life. This is true for healthy people, and for people suffering from neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease [3]. Our own still unpublished volumetric data obtained from a previously published study [2], revealed that intensive slackline training leads to neuroanatomical changes in related brain regions, including sensory-motor cortices. The results were in the expected direction of volumetric increases within the paracentral lobules only, whereas significant decreases arose in the other regions
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