draganski et al (2004)

Aim

To investigate if structural changes in the brain would occur in response to practicing a simple juggling routine

Procedure

Random sampling design, self-selected sample
Randomly allocated a sample of volunteers into 2 groups
One : jugglers
Two : non-jugglers
Made sure that both groups had no experience of juggling before the start of the experiment
First MRI performed
Participants in the juggler group subsequently spent three months learning a classic juggling routine with three balls
Second MRI performed
Participants in the juggler group spent three months where they were instructed not to practice juggling
Third MRI performed

Results

Prior to the start of the experiment there was no difference in brain structure
Second scan the juggler had more gray matter in some areas of the cortex mostly the mid-temporal area
Third scan differences decreased but jugglers denser gray matter

Conclusion

If we practice something then our brain will increase and when we stop practicing then it will decrease again, but often not to its original state