Changes in Gray Matter Induced by Learning—Revisited
Figure 1
Transient structural changes superimposed on a normalized T1-image.
Gray matter increase is shown superimposed on a normalized T1-image. The left side of the picture is the left side of the brain. a.u. = arbitrary units. Figure 1 top: Statistical parametric maps demonstrating the transient structural changes during the time of skilled performance (scans 2–4) compared to time point 1. A significant gray matter increase was found in the midtemporal area (hMT/V5) and in the frontal and temporal lobes and the cingulate cortex bilaterally. This pattern reversed when study participants were examined at time points 5 and 6 (following the weeks of exercise). Figure 1 bottom: mean and 90% confidence interval of the voxels of maximum intensity (right hMT) representing the gray matter expansion over time. Each box represents one scan (scan 1 = before training, scans 2–4 = 7, 14 and 21 days after scan one and during the exercise period; scan 5 after two and scan 6 after four months (after training had stopped.)
