Judô e plasticidade cerebral

Aproveitando a visita do Wantuir Jacini ao nosso grupo, recomendo a reportagem do Globo Reporter:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nskw4nTx3Lk

e o resumo do artigo:
Can exercise shape your brain? Cortical differences associated with judo practice.
J Sci Med Sport. 2009 Jan 13. [Epub ahead of print]
Jacini WF, Cannonieri GC, Fernandes PT, Bonilha L, Cendes F, Li LM.
Laboratory of Neuroimaging, Faculty of Medical Sciences of State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil.

Experimental animal studies have shown that physical exercise, associated with planning and execution of complex movements, are related to changes in brain structure. In humans, changes in cortical tissue density in relation to physical activity are yet to be fully determined and quantified. We investigated differences on gray matter volume in judo players by using voxel-based morphometry. Comparison between a group of eight internationally competitive judo players and a group of 18 healthy controls showed a significantly higher gray matter tissue density in brain areas of judo players.