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Changes in Human Brain Networks and Spontaneous Activity Caused by Motor and Cognitive Learning

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Clinical Systems Neuroscience

Abstract

Recent studies have shown that individual experiences during motor and cognitive learning immediately affect and modify intrinsic functional connectivity and networks, which manifest as correlations in spontaneous brain activities. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) is a powerful tool for investigating such changes in humans. It has been suggested that changes in rs-fMRI after learning reflect (1) a consolidation or encoding process of acquired memory and/or (2) plastic changes in intrinsic connectivity and networks induced by learning. Because these changes are thought to construct brain networks in individuals while interacting with genetic factors, it has been demonstrated that individual differences in behavioral or cognitive performance can be predicted from the states of connectivity and networks observed in rs-fMRI. This chapter reviews studies on changes in resting-state connectivity caused by learning in humans. Possible applications of their results to rehabilitation are suggested, including evaluation of training effects and development of tailor-made programs for rehabilitation.

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Acknowledgments

This work was partly supported by (1) a contract with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications entitled, “Novel and innovative R&D making use of brain structures,” and (2) the Strategic Research Program for Brain Sciences of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan. I would like to thank Megumi Fukuda, Masahiro Yamashita, Masaki Maruyama, and Mitsuo Kawato for helpful discussions and comments on resting-state and spontaneous brain activity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ATR Cognitive Mechanisms Laboratories, Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International, 2-2-2 Hikaridai, Keihanna Science City, Soraku, 619-0288, Japan

    Hiroshi Imamizu

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  1. Hiroshi Imamizu
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Correspondence to Hiroshi Imamizu .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Systems Neuroscience Section, Department of Rehabilitation for Brain Functions, Research Institute of National, Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, Tokorozawa, Japan

    Kenji Kansaku

  2. Human Cortical Physiology and Stroke Neu, National Institute of Neurological Disor National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

    Leonardo G. Cohen

  3. Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany

    Niels Birbaumer

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Imamizu, H. (2015). Changes in Human Brain Networks and Spontaneous Activity Caused by Motor and Cognitive Learning. In: Kansaku, K., Cohen, L., Birbaumer, N. (eds) Clinical Systems Neuroscience. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-55037-2_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-55037-2_18

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