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Abstract #0125

Structural brain changes after rotarod training in mice

Jan Scholz 1 , Yosuke Niibori 2 , Paul Frankland 2,3 , and Jason Lerch 1,4

1 Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada, 2 Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada, 3 Department of Psychology & Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada, 4 Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

Here we investigate how rotarod training affects brain volume and microstrucure using ex-vivo MRI in mice. The rotarod is a standard test that taxes motor coordination and balance. Volume of motor and balance-related regions increases after rotarod training. Volume of the motor cortex is positively correlated with rotarod performace. Diffusion imaging indicates that trained mice have higher FA in the hippocampus. Time spent on the rotarod is associated with higher FA in the hippocampus and lower FA in V1. By using complementary measures of microstructure and volume this study reveals the substantial structural reorganization of the adult mouse brain following a brief period of motor training.

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