Draganski et al.
Aim: To investigate whether learning a new skill, such as juggling, would have an effect on the brains of the participants.
Participant Sample: 24 volunteers, with 3 of them being men. The age range was from 20 to 24
Procedure: The participants were sorted in two groups: the juggling group and the non-juggling group. The non-juggling group were used as a control. An initial MRI was taken of both groups and then the juggling group were asked to learn a 3-ball cascade juggling routine, and once they had mastered this routine, a second MRI was taken of both groups. Then, they were asked to not practice this routine anymore, and a 3rd MRI was taken 3 months later, allowing sufficient time for the participants to forget the routine.
Results: Using voxel-based morphometry, the researchers compared the MRIs. The initial MRIs showed no significant difference between the two groups, however, the second MRI demonstrated an increase in the brain density of the mid-temporal lobe of both hemispheres as well as the left posterior intraparietal sulcus, regions that are associated with visual motion processing and spatial coordination. The third MRI showed a decrease of brain density in that area. There was no change in the brain density of the non-juggling group.
Concise Version
Aim: To investigate if learning a new skill, such as juggling, affects brain density.
Participant Sample: volunteers (majority women), aged to .
Procedure: Participants were divided into a juggling group and a non-juggling control. Three MRIs were taken: a baseline, one after the juggling group mastered a -ball cascade, and a final scan months after they stopped practicing.
Results: Comparison of MRIs showed that mastery led to increased brain density in the mid-temporal lobe and left posterior intraparietal sulcus, regions associated with visual motion and spatial coordination. These density increases decreased months after practice stopped. No changes were observed in the control group.