Somatosensory cortex and the motor cortex of the brain represents different parts of the body
Cortical representation
Elbert et al - Plasticity in musicians - Method
9 musicians compared with 6non-musicians
Magnet source imaging used to measure area of somatosensory cortex representing digits of the left hand
Elbert et al - Plasticity in musicians - Findings
Area of somatosensory the digits of the left hand was larger in stringed instrument players in controls
Elbert et al - Plasticity in musicians - Conclusion
Findings suggest that the increased amount of sensory processing required from the left hands of stringed instrument players results in structural changes in brain
Elbert et al - Plasticity in musicians - Evaluation
Other researchers argue that the increased representation of left hand digits in musicians may be genetic
Small sample = not generalisable
Karni et al used fMRI to show learning practising a sequence of finger movements over period of 4 weeks
Activation of larger areas of motor cortex when carrying sequence
