A broken arm changes the brain in 16 days

What happens in your brain when you can’t use your dominant hand for two weeks? Researchers from the University of Zurich have shown that right-handed people who used only their left hand for 16 days after breaking their right arm had significant anatomical changes in their brains. The researchers found that the thickness of the left brain areas were reduced while areas on the right hand side that compensate for the injury grew. The fine motor skills of the compensating hand also improved considerably. The participants were given two MRIs: one 48 hours after injury and a second 16 days later. Based on the scans, the neuropsychologists analyzed patient’s gray and white brain matter. They calculated the thickness of the cerebral cortex and measured the fine motor skills of the left hand. Understanding this mechanism could be useful in the treatment of stroke. For instance, an undamaged arm could be immobilized to strengthen the affected arm and stimulate the corresponding brain area.