Evaluation of morphological plasticity in the cerebella of basketball players with MRI

Cerebral Cortex Changes in Basketball Players

BACKGROUND

Plastic changes to brain structure and function have been reported in elite athletes of various sports. Interestingly, different regions of the brain were engaged according to the type of sports analyzed. Our laboratory reported no difference in total cerebellar volume of basketball players compared to that in the control group using the manual segmentation method. Further detailed analyses showed that elite basketball players had increased volume of the striatum and vermian lobules VI-VII of the cerebellum. We analyzed the brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of basketball players to understand their cerebral cortical plasticity through automatic analysis tools for MRI.

METHODS

Brain MRI data were collected from 19 male university basketball players and 20 age-, sex-, and height-matched control groups. In order to understand the changes in the cerebral cortices of basketball players, we employed automated MRI brain analysis techniques, including voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and surface-based morphometry (SBM).

RESULTS

VBM showed increased gray and white matter volume in both precentral gyri, paracentral lobules and increased gray matter volume in the right anterior superior temporal gyrus. SBM revealed a left dominant increase in both pericentral gyri. Fractal dimensional analysis showed an increase in the area of both precentral gyri, the left subcallosal gyrus, and the right posterior cingulate gyrus. These results suggest a significant role not only for the primary motor cortex, but also for the cingulate gyrus during basketball.

CONCLUSION

Plastic changes of both precentral gyri, the pericentral area, paracentral lobules, and the right superior temporal gyrus were observed in elite basketball players. There was a strong increase of fractal complexity in both precentral gyri and a weak increase in the right posterior cingulate gyrus and left collateral gyrus. In this study, plastic regions linked to functional neuroanatomy were related to the competence required to play basketball.

Exercise Intensity and Brain Plasticity: What’s the Difference of Brain Structural and Functional Plasticity Characteristics Between Elite Aerobic and Anaerobic Athletes?

This study investigated the differences in morphometry and functional plasticity characteristics of the brain after long-term training of different intensities. Results showed that an aerobic group demonstrated higher gray matter volume in the cerebellum and temporal lobe, while an anaerobic group demonstrated higher gray matter volume in the region of basal ganglia. In addition, the aerobic group also showed significantly higher fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) and degree centrality (DC) in the motor area of the frontal lobe and parietal lobe, and the frontal gyrus, respectively. At the same time, the anaerobic group demonstrated higher fALFF and DC in the cerebellum posterior lobe (family-wise error corrected, p < 0.01). These findings may further prove that different brain activation modes respond to different intensities of physical activity and may help to reveal the neural mechanisms that can classify athletes from different intensity sports.

Detecting structural and functional neuroplasticity in elite ice-skating athletes

Using resting-state fMRI, this study investigated long-term ice-skating training related changes in elite ice-skating athletes and compared them to healthy age-matched non-athletes under resting-state conditions. Significant differences were found in both structural and functional plasticity. Specifically, elite ice-skating athletes showed higher gray matter volume in the posterior cerebellum, frontal lobe, temporal lobe, posterior cingulate, caudate, and thalamus. The functional plasticity changes were primarily concentrated in the posterior cerebellar lobe. Additionally, stronger connectivity between the posterior cerebellar lobe and fusiform gyrus was also found in elite ice-skating athletes. Overall, the results are consistent with other studies that concluded long-term professional motor skill training can cause structural and functional plasticity in the regions of the brain related to motor planning, execution, and supervision. Both structural plasticity and functional plasticity are primarily enhanced in the posterior cerebellum. These changes may be related to the outstanding capability of speed and coordination caused by long-term ice-skating training. Present results add new evidence and may help us to understand the neural mechanisms of long-term motor skill training.

Changes in intracranial volume and cranial shape in modern Koreans over four decades

OBJECTIVES

This study investigated whether there was any secular change in cranial vault morphology among Koreans born between the 1930s and 1970s, a period of dramatic shift in Korea's socioeconomic conditions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Using three-dimensional MRI volumetry, we obtained the intracranial volume (ICV) and craniometric measurements of 115 healthy Koreans: 58 individuals (32 males and 26 females) born in the 1930s (1926-1936) and 57 (28 males and 29 females) born in the 1970s (1972-1979).

RESULTS

The intracranial volume of males was 1502.3 ± 110.3 cm³ for the 1930s group and 1594.1 ± 99.5 cm³ for the 1970s group, and for females, it was 1336.0 ± 53.0 cm³ for the 1930s group and 1425.9 ± 79.6 cm³ for the 1970s group. On average, ICV increased by 94 cm³ in males and by 90 cm³ in females. Cranial measurements for the 1970s group were significantly larger than the 1930s group for both sexes except in female cranial length. Each measurement was significantly correlated with ICV [cranial height (R = 0.720), breadth (R = 0.706), and length (R = 0.531)]. The cephalic index decreased from 0.846 to 0.828 in males, indicating the cranium became narrower relative to the cranial length. In females, the cephalic index increased from 0.831 to 0.850. Sex and birthyear were marginally interrelated in cephalic indices.

DISCUSSION

From the 1930s to 1970s, the Korean Peninsula experienced important historical shifts, and we speculate that the consequent shift in socioeconomic status is the most likely factor responsible for Koreans' cranial vault remodeling.

Structural brain correlates associated with professional handball playing

Background

There is no doubt that good bimanual performance is very important for skilled handball playing. The control of the non-dominant hand is especially demanding since efficient catching and throwing needs both hands.

Methodology/Hypotheses

We investigated training-induced structural neuroplasticity in professional handball players using several structural neuroimaging techniques and analytic approaches and also provide a review of the literature about sport-induced structural neuroplastic alterations. Structural brain adaptations were expected in regions relevant for motor and somatosensory processing such as the grey matter (GM) of the primary/secondary motor (MI/supplementary motor area, SMA) and somatosensory cortex (SI/SII), basal ganglia, thalamus, and cerebellum and in the white matter (WM) of the corticospinal tract (CST) and corpus callosum, stronger in brain regions controlling the non-dominant left hand.

Results

Increased GM volume in handball players compared with control subjects were found in the right MI/SI, bilateral SMA/cingulate motor area, and left intraparietal sulcus. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and axial diffusivity were increased within the right CST in handball players compared with control women. Age of handball training commencement correlated inversely with GM volume in the right and left MI/SI and years of handball training experience correlated inversely with radial diffusivity in the right CST. Subcortical structures tended to be larger in handball players. The anatomical measures of the brain regions associated with handball playing were positively correlated in handball players, but not interrelated in control women.

Discussion/Conclusion

Training-induced structural alterations were found in the somatosensory-motor network of handball players, more pronounced in the right hemisphere controlling the non-dominant left hand. Correlations between handball training-related measures and anatomical differences suggest neuroplastic adaptations rather than a genetic predisposition for a ball playing affinity. Investigations of neuroplasticity specifically in sportsmen might help to understand the neural mechanisms of expertise in general.

Is there relationship between brain atrophy and higher incidence of hip fracture in old age?--A preliminary study

PURPOSE

The studies on the correlation between incidence of fall and brain atrophy have been going on to find out the cause of fall and its prevention. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between incidence of hip fracture and brain volume, measured by magnetic resonance image.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 14 subjects with similar conditions (age, height, weight, and past history) were selected for this study. Fracture group (FG) was consisted of 5 subjects with intertrochanteric fracture. Control group (CG) had 9 subjects without intertrochanteric fracture. MRI-based brain volumetry was done in FG and CG with imaging software. Total brain (tBV), absolute cerebellar volumes (aCV) and relative cerebellar volumes (rCV) were compared between two groups. Student t-test was used to statistically analyze the results.

RESULTS

In FG, average tBV, aCV and rCV were 1034.676±38.80, 108.648±76.80 and 10.50±0.72 cm³, respectively. In CG, average tBV, aCV and rCV were found to be 1106.459±89.15, 114.899±98.06 and 10.39±0.53 cm³, respectively, having no statistically significant difference (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION

There was no significant difference between the fracture and control groups. Patients with neurologic disease such as cerebellar ataxia definitely have high incidence of fall that causes fractures and have brain changes as well. However, FG without neurologic disease did not have brain volume change. We consider that high risk of fall with hip fracture might decrease brain function which is not obvious to pickup on MRI.

Rapid method for electron tomographic reconstruction and three-dimensional modeling of the murine synapse using an automated fiducial marker-free system

Electron tomography (ET) has recently afforded new insights into neuronal architecture. However, the tedious process of sample preparation, image acquisition, alignment, back projection, and additional segmentation process of ET repels beginners. We have tried Hitachi's commercial packages integrated with a Hitachi H-7650 TEM to examine the potential of using an automated fiducial-less approach for our own neuroscience research. Semi-thick sections (200-300 nm) were cut from blocks of fixed mouse (C57BL) cerebellum and prepared for ET. Sets of images were collected automatically as each section was tilted by 2° increments (±60°). "Virtual" image volumes were computationally reconstructed in three dimension (3D) with the EMIP software using either the commonly used "weighted back-projection" (WBP) method or "topography-based reconstruction" (TBR) algorithm for comparison. Computed tomograms using the TBR were more precisely reconstructed compared with the WBP method. Following reconstruction, the image volumes were imported into the 3D editing software A-View and segmented according to synaptic organization. The detailed synaptic components were revealed by very thin virtual image slices; 3D models of synapse structure could be constructed efficiently. Overall, this simplified system provided us with a graspable tool for pursuing ET studies in neuroscience.

Prolonged rock climbing activity induces structural changes in cerebellum and parietal lobe

This article analyzes whether climbing, a motor activity featured by upward movements by using both feet and hands, generation of new strategies of motor control, maintenance of not stable equilibrium and adoption of long-lasting quadrupedal posture, is able to modify specific brain areas. MRI data of 10 word-class mountain climbers (MC) and 10 age-matched controls, with no climbing experience were acquired. Combining region-of-interest analyses and voxel-based morphometry we investigated cerebellar volumes and correlation between cerebellum and whole cerebral gray matter. In comparison to controls, world-class MC showed significantly larger vermian lobules I-V volumes, with no significant difference in other cerebellar vermian lobules or hemispheres. The cerebellar enlargement was associated with an enlargement of right medial posterior parietal area. The specific features of the motor climbing skills perfectly fit with the plastic anatomical changes we found. The enlargement of the vermian lobules I-V seems to be related to highly dexterous hand movements and to eye-hand coordination in the detection of and correction of visuomotor errors. The concomitant enlargement of the parietal area is related to parallel work in predicting sensory consequences of action to make movement corrections. Motor control and sensory-motor prediction of actions make the difference between survive or not at extreme altitude.

Plasticity of the superior and middle cerebellar peduncles in musicians revealed by quantitative analysis of volume and number of streamlines based on diffusion tensor tractography

This work was conducted to study the plasticity of superior (SCP) and middle (MCP) cerebellar peduncles in musicians. The cerebellum is well known to support several musically relevant motor, sensory and cognitive functions. Previous studies reported increased cerebellar volume and grey matter (GM) density in musicians. Here, we report on plasticity of white matter (WM) of the cerebellum. Our cohort included 10/10 gender and handedness-matched musicians and controls. Using diffusion tensor imaging, fibre tractography of SCP and MCP was performed. The fractional anisotropy (FA), number of streamlines and volume of streamlines of SCP/MCP were compared between groups. Automatic measurements of GM and WM volumes of the right/left cerebellar hemispheres were also compared. Musicians have significantly increased right SCP volume (p = 0.02) and number of streamlines (p = 0.001), right MCP volume (p = 0.004) and total WM volume of the right cerebellum (p = 0.003). There were no significant differences in right MCP number of streamlines, left SCP/MCP volume and number of streamlines, SCP/MCP FA values, GM volume of the right cerebellum and GM/WM volumes of the left cerebellum. We propose that increased volume and number of streamlines of the right cerebellar peduncles represent use-dependent structural adaptation to increased sensorimotor and cognitive functional demands on the musician's cerebellum.

Increased cortical thickness in sports experts: a comparison of diving players with the controls

Sports experts represent a population of people who have acquired expertise in sports training and competition. Recently, the number of studies on sports experts has increased; however, neuroanatomical changes following extensive training are not fully understood. In this study, we used cortical thickness measurement to investigate the brain anatomical characteristics of professional divers with extensive training experience. A comparison of the brain anatomical characteristics of the non-athlete group with those of the athlete group revealed three regions with significantly increased cortical thickness in the athlete group. These regions included the left superior temporal sulcus, the right orbitofrontal cortex and the right parahippocampal gyrus. Moreover, a significant positive correlation between the mean cortical thickness of the right parahippocampal gyrus and the training experience was detected, which might indicate the effect of extensive training on diving players' brain structure.

No volume difference of medulla oblongata between young and old Korean people

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of aging and gender on the volumes of total brain, brainstem, cerebellum and lateral ventricle of healthy Koreans by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Using three-dimensional MRI volumetry, we compared the volumes of various brain regions according to age and gender in 115 healthy Koreans. There were significant differences in the volumes of midbrain, cerebellum and lateral ventricle, whereas those of brainstem and medulla showed no differences between old-age group and young-age group. Men have larger volume of medulla than women. Age-related differences in the volumes of total brain and pons were significantly larger in men than women.