Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41692883›Full record

ArticleCommunications biology2026

Motor learning induces myelin-related white matter changes revealed by MRI-based in vivo histology.

Norman Aye, Jörn Kaufmann, Hans-Jochen Heinze, Emrah Düzel, Gabriel Ziegler, Marco Taubert, Nico Lehmann

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Communications biology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Norman AyeFaculty of Humanities, Institute III, Department of Sport Science, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6913-3229
Jörn KaufmannDepartment of Neurology, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8513-7043
Hans-Jochen HeinzeDepartment of Neurology, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.
Emrah DüzelCollaborative Research Center 1436 Neural Resources of Cognition, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0139-5388
Gabriel ZieglerCollaborative Research Center 1436 Neural Resources of Cognition, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6589-6416
Marco TaubertFaculty of Humanities, Institute III, Department of Sport Science, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-8483-5894
Nico LehmannFaculty of Humanities, Institute III, Department of Sport Science, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany. nico1.lehmann@ovgu.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3146-5084

Funding

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation) CRC 1436Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation) CRC 1436 C01, project number 425899996
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Motor learning induces widespread brain changes, yet the microstructural mechanisms underlying human white matter (WM) plasticity remain poorly understood. Animal studies have identified roles for neurites, glia, and myelin, but in vivo human evidence has been limited by measurement specificity. Here, we combine multi-contrast quantitative MRI (qMRI), tractometry, and a novel multivariate analysis framework to investigate the microstructural basis of WM plasticity during motor skill learning. In a longitudinal within-subject study, 24 healthy adults completed 4 weeks of balance training following a baseline control period without training. We mapped changes across tractography-defined WM pathways using complementary qMRI markers related to tissue density, myelin, neurite architecture, and iron. Multivariate analysis revealed biologically plausible, behaviorally relevant plasticity in distributed pathways-including the cortico-ponto-cerebello-thalamo-cortical loop, anterior thalamic radiation, and corticospinal tracts-with important contributions from myelin-related metrics. Notably, we observed changes consistent with training-related modulation of the aggregate g-ratio in humans. These spatially distributed effects converged into a single latent dimension predicting neocortical plasticity, suggesting a coordinated, cross-tissue mechanism of brain adaptation. This biologically interpretable framework offers a powerful new approach for investigating WM microstructure in the contexts of plasticity, development, aging, disease, and rehabilitation.

Indexed as

LearningMagnetic Resonance ImagingMotor SkillsMyelin SheathWhite MatterAdultBrainFemaleHumansMaleNeuronal PlasticityYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID41692883
PMCPMC12992915

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.