Draganski (2004)

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

To see whether learning a new skill would have an effect on the brains of participants.

Question 2

Participants

Answer 2

24 volunteers, aged 20-24. 21 females, 3 males.

Question 3

Method

Answer 3

• Allocated one of two conditions (jugglers, non-jugglers)
• Those in juggling condition were taught a 3 ball cascade juggling routine
• Asked to practise the this and notify researchers when they had mastered it
• Had a second MRI
• Told not to juggle anymore, and a third, final scan was done 3 months later
• Non-juggling group as a control

Question 4

Results

Answer 4

• MRI scans analysed using voxel-based morphometry
• From baseline scans (taken before study), no significant regional difference in grey matter between 2 conditions
• At the end of the study, jugglers showed a significantly larger amount of grey matter in the mid-temporal area of both hemispheres (area associated with visual memory)
• 3 months after juggling stopped, grey matter in these parts decreased
• No change in control group

Question 5

Conclusion

Answer 5

It appears that juggling relies more on visual memory than on procedural memory