Synaptic remodelling during human skill learning

The remarkable ability to acquire skills, such as flying an airplane or playing a musical instrument, is the basis of humankind’s most impressive achievements.

Researchers have long theorized that structural rewiring of synaptic connections in the brain is underlying skill learning. It is essentially unknown whether and, if so, how this process plays a role in human learning.

Using a novel radioligand for estimating synaptic density in the living human brain with positron emission tomography (PET), this project aims to test the synaptic rewiring hypothesis of human skill learning. Research suggests that the rewiring process resembles the audition process for the cast of a movie.

The brain initially holds an audition by expanding the pool of candidate neuronal ensembles that are tried out for executing the task. Based on outcome-mediated learning, the best candidate circuit is then chosen for further local fine-tuning.

During the initial phase, this process is associated with broad growth of structure which retracts in a selective manner after the best circuit for the job has been nominated.

By repeatedly imaging the human brain with PET and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during weeks of motor learning, this project will test several model predictions for synaptic density, brain structure, and functional activity.

The project will, for the first time, put the synaptic rewiring theory to test in humans and consolidate a theory of the process of human skill acquisition.