Title
White matter neuroplastic changes in long-term trained players of the game of "Baduk" (GO): A voxel-based diffusion-tensor imaging study.
Abstract
Currently, one of the most challenging issues in modern neuroscience is learning-induced neural plasticity. Many researchers have identified activation-dependent structural brain plasticity in gray and white matter. The game of Baduk is known to require many cognitive processes, and long-term training in such processes would be expected to cause structural changes in related brain areas. We conducted voxel-based analyses of diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) data and found that, compared to inexperienced controls, long-term trained Baduk players developed larger regions of white matter with increased fractional anisotropy (FA) values in the frontal, cingulum, and striato-thalamic areas that are related to attentional control, working memory, executive regulation, and problem-solving. In addition, inferior temporal regions with increased FA indicate that Baduk experts tend to develop a task-specific template for the game, as compared to controls. In contrast, decreased FA found in dorsolateral premotor and parietal areas indicate that Baduk experts were less likely than were controls to use structures related to load-dependent memory capacity. Right-side dominance in Baduk experts suggests that the tasks involved are mainly spatial processes. Altogether, long-term Baduk training appears to cause structural brain changes associated with many of the cognitive aspects necessary for game play, and investigation of the mechanism underpinning such changes might be helpful for improving higher-order cognitive capacities, such as learning, abstract reasoning, and self-control, which can facilitate education and cognitive therapies.
Year
DOI
Venue
2010
10.1016/j.neuroimage.2010.04.014
NeuroImage
Keywords
Field
DocType
Baduk,Brain development,Cognitive execution,Diffusion-tensor imaging,Neural plasticity
Voxel,Developmental psychology,Neuroscience,Diffusion MRI,White matter,Fractional anisotropy,Working memory,Psychology,Cognitive psychology,Cognition,Neuroplasticity,Attentional control
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
52
1
1053-8119
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
2
0.41
13
Authors
9
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Boreom Lee17713.62
Ji Young Park233933.26
Wi Hoon Jung341.80
Hee-Sun Kim4144.77
Jungsu S. Oh520.75
Chi-Hoon Choi6131.68
Joon Hwan Jang771.81
Do-Hyung Kang8131.68
Jun Soo Kwon9677.79