Training-Induced Brain Structure Changes in the Elderly
Open accessAbstract
It has been suggested that learning is associated with a transient and highly selective increase in brain gray matter in healthy young volunteers. It is not clear whether and to what extent the aging brain is still able to exhibit such structural plasticity. We built on our original study, now focusing on healthy senior citizens. We observed that elderly persons were able to learn three-ball cascade juggling, but with less proficiency compared with 20-year-old adolescents. Similar to the young group, gray-matter changes in the older brain related to skill acquisition were observed in area hMT/V5 (middle temporal area of the visual cortex). In addition, elderly volunteers who learned to juggle showed transient increases in gray matter in the hippocampus on the left side and in the nucleus accumbens bilaterally.
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Physical exercise affects gray matter structure.
“Physical exercise has been reported to affect gray matter structure. 14-19”
From Physical exercise keeps the brain connected: biking increases white matter integrity in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls. (2015) · cites this paper as [15]
Increases in cortical and hippocampal volume were found after periods of exercise in healthy individuals.
“Increases in the volume of the cortex 14-16,18 and hippocampus 17,19 were found after periods of exercise in healthy individuals.”
From Physical exercise keeps the brain connected: biking increases white matter integrity in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls. (2015) · cites this paper as [15]
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References 36 · Cited by 681
- Authors
- Boyke, J., Driemeyer, J., Gaser, C., Büchel, C., & May, A.
- Affiliations
- Universität Hamburg (DE)
- Corresponding author
- May, Arne
- Venue
- The Journal of Neuroscience
- Publisher
- Society for Neuroscience
- Published
- 2008-07-09
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 28
- Pages
- 7031-7035
- ISSN
- 0270-6474 (ISSN-L)
- 1529-2401
- PMC
- PMC6670504
- OpenAlex
- W2049273156
- Cited by
- 681
- References
- 36
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 26 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 25 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 72 · 2019: 36 · 2018: 38 · 2017: 35 · 2016: 43 · 2015: 41 · 2014: 56 · 2013: 53 · 2012: 58
- FWCI
- 11.52
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Motor Control and Adaptation
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Tactile and Sensory Interactions
- Keywords
- gray matter changes, brain aging, juggling, skill acquisition, hMT+/V5, hippocampus, nucleus accumbens, older adults, visual cortex
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Brain, Brain Mapping, Female, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Middle Aged, Psychomotor Performance, Teaching, Geriatric Assessment
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