Abstract #3153

Wylezinska M, Evans C, Jezzard P, Matthews P, Kincses T

Cortical representation of movement can be altered by motor learning. Changes in GABA concentration may contribute to this plasticity. GABA levels were measured in humans during motor learning within two brain regions: primary sensorimotor cortex contralateral and ipsilateral to the hand used for the learning task. We reproduced the observation that thirty minutes of motor learning reduced GABA within an 8ml VOI contralateral to the hand used for the learning task. We observed no significant changes in the ipsilateral cortex. These results suggest that GABA is one of the elements that contributes to local cortical changes during fast motor learning.