Learning Morse Code Alters Microstructural Properties in the Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus: A DTI Study
Learning relies on neuroplasticity, which has mainly been studied in gray matter (GM). However, there is mounting evidence indicating a critical role of white matter changes involved in learning processes. One of the most important learning processes in human development is language acquisition. How...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2017-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnhum.2017.00383/full |
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| author | Lara Schlaffke Lara Schlaffke Alexander Leemans Lauren M. Schweizer Sebastian Ocklenburg Tobias Schmidt-Wilcke Tobias Schmidt-Wilcke Tobias Schmidt-Wilcke |
| author_facet | Lara Schlaffke Lara Schlaffke Alexander Leemans Lauren M. Schweizer Sebastian Ocklenburg Tobias Schmidt-Wilcke Tobias Schmidt-Wilcke Tobias Schmidt-Wilcke |
| author_sort | Lara Schlaffke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Learning relies on neuroplasticity, which has mainly been studied in gray matter (GM). However, there is mounting evidence indicating a critical role of white matter changes involved in learning processes. One of the most important learning processes in human development is language acquisition. However, due to the length of this learning process, it has been notoriously difficult to investigate the underlying neuroplastic changes. Here, we report a novel learning paradigm to assess the role of white matter plasticity for language acquisition. By acoustically presenting Morse Code (MC) using an in house developed audio book as a model for language-type learning, we generated a well-controlled learning environment that allows for the detection of subtle white matter changes related to language type learning in a much shorter time frame than usual language acquisition. In total 12 letters of the MC alphabet were learned within six learning session, which allowed study participants to perform a word recognition MC decoding task. In this study, we found that learning MC was associated with significant microstructural changes in the left inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF). The fractional anisotropy (FA) of this associative fiber bundle connecting the occipital and posterior temporal cortex with the temporal pole as well as the hippocampus and amygdala was increased. Furthermore, white matter plasticity was associated with task performance of MC decoding, indicating that the structural changes were related to learning efficiency. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate an important role of white matter neuroplasticity for acquiring a new language skill. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T22:35:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a2c547ee1266481ab92d9c771b88ea9a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5161 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T22:35:26Z |
| publishDate | 2017-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-a2c547ee1266481ab92d9c771b88ea9a2022-12-22T01:30:56ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Human Neuroscience1662-51612017-07-011110.3389/fnhum.2017.00383261432Learning Morse Code Alters Microstructural Properties in the Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus: A DTI StudyLara Schlaffke0Lara Schlaffke1Alexander Leemans2Lauren M. Schweizer3Sebastian Ocklenburg4Tobias Schmidt-Wilcke5Tobias Schmidt-Wilcke6Tobias Schmidt-Wilcke7Department of Neurology, BG-Kliniken Bergmannsheil, Ruhr Universität BochumBochum, GermanyDepartment of Radiology, University Medical Center UtrechtUtrecht, NetherlandsImage Sciences Institute, University Medical Center UtrechtUtrecht, NetherlandsDepartment of Neurology, BG-Kliniken Bergmannsheil, Ruhr Universität BochumBochum, GermanyDepartment of Biopsychology, Ruhr Universität BochumBochum, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, BG-Kliniken Bergmannsheil, Ruhr Universität BochumBochum, GermanyDepartment of Neurology, St. Mauritius TherapieklinikMeerbusch, GermanyInstitute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology, Medical Faculty, University of DüsseldorfDüsseldorf, GermanyLearning relies on neuroplasticity, which has mainly been studied in gray matter (GM). However, there is mounting evidence indicating a critical role of white matter changes involved in learning processes. One of the most important learning processes in human development is language acquisition. However, due to the length of this learning process, it has been notoriously difficult to investigate the underlying neuroplastic changes. Here, we report a novel learning paradigm to assess the role of white matter plasticity for language acquisition. By acoustically presenting Morse Code (MC) using an in house developed audio book as a model for language-type learning, we generated a well-controlled learning environment that allows for the detection of subtle white matter changes related to language type learning in a much shorter time frame than usual language acquisition. In total 12 letters of the MC alphabet were learned within six learning session, which allowed study participants to perform a word recognition MC decoding task. In this study, we found that learning MC was associated with significant microstructural changes in the left inferior longitudinal fasciculus (ILF). The fractional anisotropy (FA) of this associative fiber bundle connecting the occipital and posterior temporal cortex with the temporal pole as well as the hippocampus and amygdala was increased. Furthermore, white matter plasticity was associated with task performance of MC decoding, indicating that the structural changes were related to learning efficiency. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate an important role of white matter neuroplasticity for acquiring a new language skill.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnhum.2017.00383/fullDTIsemantic learninginferior longitudinal fasciculusMorse codelanguage learning |
| spellingShingle | Lara Schlaffke Lara Schlaffke Alexander Leemans Lauren M. Schweizer Sebastian Ocklenburg Tobias Schmidt-Wilcke Tobias Schmidt-Wilcke Tobias Schmidt-Wilcke Learning Morse Code Alters Microstructural Properties in the Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus: A DTI Study Frontiers in Human Neuroscience DTI semantic learning inferior longitudinal fasciculus Morse code language learning |
| title | Learning Morse Code Alters Microstructural Properties in the Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus: A DTI Study |
| title_full | Learning Morse Code Alters Microstructural Properties in the Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus: A DTI Study |
| title_fullStr | Learning Morse Code Alters Microstructural Properties in the Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus: A DTI Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Learning Morse Code Alters Microstructural Properties in the Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus: A DTI Study |
| title_short | Learning Morse Code Alters Microstructural Properties in the Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus: A DTI Study |
| title_sort | learning morse code alters microstructural properties in the inferior longitudinal fasciculus a dti study |
| topic | DTI semantic learning inferior longitudinal fasciculus Morse code language learning |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnhum.2017.00383/full |
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