Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique can measure spontaneous neuronal activity in the human brain and has been widely used to investigate temporally correlated fluctuations or functional connectivity between remote brain areas. Structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has also been used to investigate the correlation of the structural features (e.g., cortical thickness or gray matter density) between remote brain areas. Structural correlation can reveal intrinsically structural organizational principles in the human brain and enhance our understanding of how functional brain states are associated with their structural substrates Musicians who play keyboard instruments require bimanual coordination, which is accomplished by communication between the brain hemispheres. Although regional changes of brain activation and gray matter density in the sensorimotor area have been shown in previous studies of musicians, the correlation of brain activity or gray matter density between the left and right sensorimotor area has not yet been investigated. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and structural MRI were used to study correlations of spontaneous activity and gray matter density between the left and right primary sensorimotor areas in pianists and non-musicians. Based on region of interest (ROI) methodology, fMRI analysis showed significant correlation of spontaneous activity between the left and right primary sensorimotor area in both groups; however, there was no between-group difference. Structural MRI analysis showed significant correlation in gray matter density between the left and II right sensorimotor areas in non-musicians (r = 0.65, p = 0.001), but not in pianists (r = 0.07, p = 0.78), with a significant between-group difference (p = 0.035). The lack of correlation of gray matter density between the left and right sensorimotor areas might be the basis of bimanual coordination of the pianists. We compared correlations of spontaneous activity and gray matter density between left and right sensorimotor coordinated areas in pianists and non-musicians based on central sulcus (CS) parameterized methodology. FMRI analysis showed significant correlation of spontaneous activity between the left and right primary sensorimotor coordinated areas in both groups; however, there was no between-group difference. Structural MRI analysis showed significant correlation in gray matter density between many left and right sensorimotor coordinated areas in both groups, but did not show any disciplines. This might because that the coordinated areas are not the functionally coordinated areas. The lack of correlation of gray matter density between the left and right sensorimotor areas which was showed based on ROI methodology might underlie behavioral coordination or independence.
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