Juliana began taking violin lessons as a young child. As a teenager, she participated in a research study in which MRI scans of teenagers who had played the violin for several years were compared to MRI scans of other teenagers who had never played a musical instrument. The MRI scans of the teenage violinists showed that brain regions devoted to control of the fine muscles of the hands and fingers were larger in the teenage musicians than in the others. This example illustrates the important phenomenon of:
A) functional plasticity.
B) structural plasticity.
C) lateralization of function.
D) myelin regrowth.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The example illustrates structural plasticity, which refers to changes in brain structure as a result of experience or learning. Specifically, the MRI scans showed that brain regions had physically changed in size as a result of Juliana's long-term practice of the violin.

Juliana Began Taking Violin Lessons as a Young Child