Draganski et al (2004)

Aim

• Investigate impact of learning juggling on brain structure.

• Explore changes in neural density associated with skill acquisition.

Procedure

• 24 volunteers (20-24 years old), 21 females, 3 males.

• All non-jugglers at start.

• Baseline MRI scan for brain structure.

• Two groups: jugglers and non-jugglers.

• Jugglers learned three-ball cascade routine.

• MRI scan after mastering routine.

• Final MRI scan after 3 months (stopped juggling).

• Non-juggling group served as control.

Results

• Baseline: No brain structure differences between groups.

• Post-learning: Jugglers showed increased grey matter in mid-temporal area (visual memory).

• After 3 months: Grey matter decrease in jugglers' brains.

• Non-juggling group showed no change.

Conclusion

• Juggling impacts visual memory areas of brain.

• Neural changes associated with skill acquisition are reversible.

Strengths

• Experimental design supports cause-and-effect relationship.

• Control group provides comparison for changes observed.

Limitations

• Small sample size (24 participants).

• Reliability of data may be affected by averaging in small sample.

• Field experiment setting may impact internal validity.