Usenet Newsgroups Distinct patterns of functional and structural neuroplasticity associated with learning Morse code. From: KZEROHB@GMAIL.COM (Radio KØHB) I think this says that Morse operators' grey matter may be denser.  Or does it mean that we're just dense? --------------------------------------------------------------- from Schmidt-Wilcke T, Rosengarth K, Luerding R, Bogdahn U, Greenlee MW. Department of Neurology, University of Regensburg, Germany. tobiass@med.umich.edu Abstract Learning is based on neuroplasticity, i.e. on the capability of the brain to adapt to new experiences. Different mechanisms of neuroplasticity have been described, ranging from synaptic remodeling to changes in complex neural circuitry. To further study the relationship between changes in neural activity and changes in gray matter density associated with learning, we performed a combined longitudinal functional and morphometric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study on healthy volunteers who learned to decipher Morse code. We investigated 16 healthy subjects using functional MR imaging (fMRI) and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) before and after they had learned to decipher Morse code. The same set of Morse-code signals was presented to participants pre- and post-training. We found an increase in task-specific neural activity in brain regions known to be critically involved in language perception and memory, such as the inferior parietal cortex bilaterally and the medial parietal cortex during Morse code deciphering. Furthermore we found an increase in gray matter density in the left occipitotemporal region, extending into the fusiform gyrus. Anatomically neighboring sites of functional and structural neuroplasticity were revealed in the left occipitotemporal/inferior temporal cortex, but these regions only marginally overlapped. Implications of this morpho-functional dissociation for learning concepts are discussed. -- 73, de Hans, K0HB -- "Just a People Pictures">boy and his radio" -- Proud Member of:  A1 Operators -  MWA -  TCDXA -  CADXA -  LVDXA -  CWOps -  SOC -  TCFMC - -- Sea stories here ---> Request QSL at  ---> All valid QSL requests honored with old fashioned paper QSL! LoTW participant  --- - complaints: news@netfront.net --- Subject  Distinct patterns of functional and structural neu  Re: Distinct patterns of functional and structural neu