Activation in the caudate nucleus is attributed to the acquisition of a cognitive skill. It continues to be used even after initial learning, which suggests it is still necessary after practice.

Result Interpretation - EXPT 10 vs CTRL (TOL task)

When CTRL was subtracted from EXPT10, a single significant activation was found in:
- left caudate nucleus

University of California, Davis

The rCBF (regional cerebral blood flow) data is split into two categories:

Experimental VS Control Condition:
- EXPT1 vs CTRL
- EXPT10 vs CTRL

Total time correlations:
- Correlations between rCBF and total time in the four
experimental conditions
- Correlations between rCBF and total time in the four experimental
conditions, using the one-move control condition

Cerebral Blood Flow Results (TOL Task)

Beauchamp, M., Dagher, A., Aston, J., & Doyon, J. (2003). Dynamic functional changes associated with cognitive skill learning of an adapted version of the Tower of London task. NeuroImage, 20(3), 1649-1660. doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2003.07.003

Dynamic functional changes associated with cognitive skill learning of an adapted version of the Tower of London task

The level of rCBF in EXPT1 was compared to the averaged scans of the control conditions. This was used to study dynamic functional changes early on in the study. 
When CTRL was subtracted from EXPT1, significant activations were found in:
- mid-dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (BA 9)
- orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) (BA 14)
- premotor cortex (BA 6)
- parietal lobe (BA 7 and 40) on the left
- caudate nucleus and cerebellum (lobule VI) bilaterally

rCBF Results - EXPT1 vs CTRL (TOL task)

rCBF Results - EXPT10 vs CTRL (TOL task)

Areas with a decrease in activity with learning:
- orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) (BA 25 on left)
- right orbitofrontal cortex (BA 14 on right)
- left frontopolar region (BA 10 on left)
These results indicate that these regions were more active in the early stages of learning.

Single area with an increase in activity:
- left premotor cortex (BA 6)

rCBF Results - Correlation with Total Time in the 4 Experimental Conditions

The correlation analysis was repeated with the one-move control condition to remove effects of the visual and motoric components of the TOL task. 

Areas with decreased activity:
- left orbitofrontal cortex (BA 25)
- right orbitofrontal cortex (BA 14)

Unlike the previous analysis (Table 4), Area 10 failed to reach significance.

Single area with increased activity:
- left premotor cortex (BA 6)

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