Talent vs practice, More research. Options

[Clari Nicki1]

I was glad that they cited some neurological research actually. It was shown that grey matter density in the neocortical (the outer, evolutionary newer bits of your brain) areas to do with movement was up to 2% more dense after just a few months' practice when non-jugglers learned to juggle. The same was shown for fine motor areas in pianists. If anyone's interested, I can find the paper(s) for you. 2% might not sound like a lot but, believe me, it is hugely significant!

I would be very interested! Thanks.

I've got the references. Sorry that it's taken me so long, I've had a manic few days (and they're not slowing down any time soon)! The following studies are all structural studies. There are plenty of functional ones out there too but they can be a little more complicated, I find.

Ok so brain matter density in professional keyboard players: Gaser, C., & Schlaug, G. (2003). Brain structures differ between musicians and non-musicians. Journal of Neuroscience, 23, 21-24.

And in jugglers: Draganski, B., Gaser, C., Busch, V., Schuierer, G., Bogdahn, U., & May, A. (2004). Neuroplasticity: changes in grey matter induced by training. Nature, 427, 311-312

Posterior hippocampi grey matter density in taxi drivers (memory): Maguire, E.A., Gadian, D.G., Johnrude, I.S., Good, C.S., Ashburner, J., Frackowiack, R.S.J., & Frith, C.D. (2000). Navigation- related structural changes in the hippocampi of taxi drivers. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, 97, 4398-4403

Bilinguals (inferior parietal cortex). I've got plenty of references on language if you're interested in it: Mechelli, A., Crinion, J.T., Noppeney, U., O?Doherty, J., Ashburner, J., Frackowiak, R.S.J., & Price, C.J. (2004). Neurolinguistics: structural plasticity in the bilingual brain. Nature, 431, 757.

Enjoy! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Really interesting- thanks for that!