Gray matter volume of functionally relevant primary motor cortex is causally related to learning a hand motor task.
Cereb Cortex
; 34(5)2024 May 02.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38771243
ABSTRACT
Variability in brain structure is associated with the capacity for behavioral change. However, a causal link between specific brain areas and behavioral change (such as motor learning) has not been demonstrated. We hypothesized that greater gray matter volume of a primary motor cortex (M1) area active during a hand motor learning task is positively correlated with subsequent learning of the task, and that the disruption of this area blocks learning of the task. Healthy participants underwent structural MRI before learning a skilled hand motor task. Next, participants performed this learning task during fMRI to determine M1 areas functionally active during this task. This functional ROI was anatomically constrained with M1 boundaries to create a group-level "Active-M1" ROI used to measure gray matter volume in each participant. Greater gray matter volume in the left hemisphere Active-M1 ROI was related to greater motor learning in the corresponding right hand. When M1 hand area was disrupted with repetitive transcranial stimulation (rTMS), learning of the motor task was blocked, confirming its causal link to motor learning. Our combined imaging and rTMS approach revealed greater cortical volume in a task-relevant M1 area is causally related to learning of a hand motor task in healthy humans.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Imagen por Resonancia Magnética
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Estimulación Magnética Transcraneal
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Sustancia Gris
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Mano
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Aprendizaje
/
Corteza Motora
Límite:
Adult
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Female
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Humans
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Male
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Cereb Cortex
Asunto de la revista:
CEREBRO
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos