PassingPsych

A neural network is a series of connected neurons that allows the processing and transmission of information. Every time you learn something new, the neurons connect to create a new trace in the brain. This is called dendritic branching because the dendrites of the neurons grow in numbers and connect with other neurons. In this essay, I will give a detailed account of neural networks and the supporting study of Dranganski et al.

Draganski et al aimed to investigate whether the structure of an adult human brain would alter in response to environmental demands as a result of learning a new motor skill. To investigate, Draganski used a field experiment containing a total of 24 participants ( 21 female and 3 male). The participants' brains were scanned using structural MRI scans so that researchers could see the effect of learning-induced plasticity in the brains of volunteers. Participants had their brains scanned 3 times, once before learning juggling (motor skill), another scan after learning to juggle routing over 3 months and a final time after 3 months of not juggling. This is known as a repeated measures design as participants took part in both conditions. The results of the MRI scans showed no structural differences in the participants ' brains before juggling. However, there was an increase in the volume of the two regions ( motor and visual area)  of the jugglers' brains associated with the retention of visually detected movement information of learning. This difference decreases after 3 months of no practice. They found these individuals had a transient/ passing and selective structural change in areas associated with the processing and storage of complex visual motion. Practising watching the balls and learning to move in response strengthened the neural connections in the brain areas responsible for the activity. This discovery of a stimulants-dependent alteration in the brain's structure contradicts the traditionally held view that cortical plasticity is associated with functional rather than anatomical changes.

Draganski demonstrates neural networks in the brain. For example, there was an increase in the volume of the two regions of the juggler’s brain associated with the retention of visually detected movement of learning. This is important as the volume of the motor and visual areas of the participants increased, due to them practising a new motor skill for 3 months resulting in the formation of neural connection and eventually a neural pathway in those areas. Therefore neural networks impact the brain.