Pascual-Leone et al. (1995)

From Psy3241

The Role of Reading Activity on the Modulation of Motor Cortical Outputs to the Reading Hand in Braille Readers

Discusses the plasticity of the brain with skilled activities. In this study, braille readers had changes in their brain imaging through TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) and cortical output maps showed differences on days when participants were reading braille. Generally, the study suggests that the brain changes with regard to what activities a person is doing, with the idea that the brain accounts for the fact that people will not be doing the same things with their hands, or with their legs, all the time. Furthermore, plastic changes in the CNS are required for learning a new skill. The proficiency of a skill may be dependent on the capacity of modulating these intracortical connections rapidly when necessary. Similarly, modulation of motor cortical outputs can be reverted with lack of practice.