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White matter in the older brain is more plastic than in the younger brain

Author

Listed:
  • Yuko Yotsumoto

    (The University of Tokyo)

  • Li-Hung Chang

    (Linguistic and Psychological Sciences, Brown University
    Education Center for Humanities and Social Sciences, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, National Yang Ming University)

  • Rui Ni

    (University of California Riverside
    Present addresses: Department of Psychology, Wichita State University, 1845 Fairmont Street, Wichita, Kansas 67260, USA)

  • Russell Pierce

    (University of California Riverside
    Present addresses: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington DC 22590, USA)

  • George J. Andersen

    (University of California Riverside)

  • Takeo Watanabe

    (Linguistic and Psychological Sciences, Brown University)

  • Yuka Sasaki

    (Linguistic and Psychological Sciences, Brown University)

Abstract

Visual perceptual learning (VPL) with younger subjects is associated with changes in functional activation of the early visual cortex. Although overall brain properties decline with age, it is unclear whether these declines are associated with visual perceptual learning. Here we use diffusion tensor imaging to test whether changes in white matter are involved in VPL for older adults. After training on a texture discrimination task for three daily sessions, both older and younger subjects show performance improvements. While the older subjects show significant changes in fractional anisotropy (FA) in the white matter beneath the early visual cortex after training, no significant change in FA is observed for younger subjects. These results suggest that the mechanism for VPL in older individuals is considerably different from that in younger individuals and that VPL of older individuals involves reorganization of white matter.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuko Yotsumoto & Li-Hung Chang & Rui Ni & Russell Pierce & George J. Andersen & Takeo Watanabe & Yuka Sasaki, 2014. "White matter in the older brain is more plastic than in the younger brain," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms6504
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6504
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