The Effect of Juggling as Dual-Task Activity on Human Neuroplasticity: A Systematic Review

Abstract

This systematic review formulated a research question based on the PICO method in accordance with the Guidelines for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), “What is the effect of juggling as dual-task activity on neuroplasticity in the human brain?” In total, 1982 studies were analysed, 11 of which met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. These studies included 400 participants who had no prior juggling experience or were expert jugglers. The research methodology in seven studies was based on a long-term intervention with juggling. Three studies were based on brain imaging during the act of juggling, and one study was based on comparing differences between experienced jugglers and non-jugglers without the intervention. In all of these selected studies, positive structural changes in the human brain were found, including changes mainly in the gray matter (GM) volume in the visual motion complex area (hMT/V5) and the white matter (WM) volume in fractional anisotropy (FA). Based on this evidence, it can be concluded that the bimanual juggling task, as a dual-task activity, may effectively integrate brain areas to improve neuroplasticity. The small number of well-designed studies and the high risk of bias call for further research using a juggling intervention to identify conclusive evidence.

Effect of the Juggling-Based Motor Learning Physical Activity on Well-Being in Elderly: A Pre–Post Study with a Special Training Protocol

“…There is a suggestion that the temporal lobe of the brain is involved in generating panic attacks [ 53 ], so movement information and physical movement itself may be an important part of controlling this problem. Existing evidence suggests that juggling as a physical activity that engages the practitioner’s attention precisely affects the neuroplasticity of the brain, both white [ 15 , 54 , 55 ] and gray matter [ 15 , 16 , 28 , 56 , 57 ], including but not limited to the medial temporal lobe [ 15 , 16 , 28 , 56 , 57 , 58 ]. This shows that juggling as a physical activity can effectively improve well-being.…”

“…Motor learning is “…a set of processes associated with practice or experience leading to relatively permanent changes in the capability for responding” [ 14 ]. As we have presented in our systematic review [ 15 ], the evidence shows that in the elderly, motor learning retains the ability to change the brain structure. Older adults achieve a worse final performance, but the neuroplastic changes in the brain are similar to those of younger people with a better final performance of juggling.…”

“…The number of possible combinations of techniques is so large that even with a long training period, practitioners can learn new tasks during each meeting. Evidence suggests that juggling among the elderly can induce neuroplasticity and thus perhaps improve cognitive and motor functions, and importantly, the elderly are still able to master juggling [ 15 ]. These changes can occur after just one week of a juggling intervention [ 15 , 16 ].…”

“…Evidence suggests that juggling among the elderly can induce neuroplasticity and thus perhaps improve cognitive and motor functions, and importantly, the elderly are still able to master juggling [ 15 ]. These changes can occur after just one week of a juggling intervention [ 15 , 16 ].…”

Escitalopram increases synaptic density in the human brain over weeks: A randomized controlled trial

“…However, whether neuroplasticity is central to the effects of SSRIs in humans has been di cult to investigate, mainly due to the lack of speci c biomarkers. A suggested proxy is change in cortical thickness or brain volume, as measured with MRI, in response to, e.g., learning new skills or tasks, such as juggling (12). However, by using PET, it is possible to non-invasively quantify molecular biomarkers that more speci cally re ect plasticity in vivo.…”