Behavioural and Cognitive Neuroscience (Beacon) Seminar: White Matter plasticity and myelination in the adult brain in response to learning

White matter plasticity is a recently described mechanism by which experience shapes brain structure and function during adulthood. This phenomenon was first described in adult humans with complex motor skill learning using whole brain non-invasive diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). I have used rodent models in combination with imaging techniques to further investigate the underlying cellular mechanisms of white matter plasticity. I found evidence of myelin changes with learning and experience, which could, to some extent, be related to the imaging findings in humans.