Temporal and spatial dynamics of brain structure changes during extensive learning.

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Bogdan Draganski - , University of Regensburg (Author)
  • Christian Gaser - , University of Regensburg (Author)
  • Gerd Kempermann - , Department of Neurology, Chair of Genomics of Regeneration, University of Regensburg (Author)
  • H. Georg Kuhn - , University of Regensburg (Author)
  • Jürgen Winkler - , University of Regensburg (Author)
  • Christian Büchel - , University of Regensburg (Author)
  • Arne May - , University of Regensburg (Author)

Abstract

The current view regarding human long-term memory as an active process of encoding and retrieval includes a highly specific learning-induced functional plasticity in a network of multiple memory systems. Voxel-based morphometry was used to detect possible structural brain changes associated with learning. Magnetic resonance images were obtained at three different time points while medical students learned for their medical examination. During the learning period, the gray matter increased significantly in the posterior and lateral parietal cortex bilaterally. These structural changes did not change significantly toward the third scan during the semester break 3 months after the exam. The posterior hippocampus showed a different pattern over time: the initial increase in gray matter during the learning period was even more pronounced toward the third time point. These results indicate that the acquisition of a great amount of highly abstract information may be related to a particular pattern of structural gray matter changes in particular brain areas.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)6314-6317
Number of pages4
JournalThe Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience
Volume26
Issue number23
Publication statusPublished - 7 Jun 2006
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 16763039
ORCID /0000-0002-5304-4061/work/161408178

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas