Extensive long-term verbal memory training is associated with brain plasticity
Authors: Anshita Singh
Uttam Kumar
Prakash Paddakanya
Journal: Scientific Reports (2021)
Discipline: Multidisciplinary
Keywords: human brain; memory experts; structural brain analysis; Vedic priests; Vedas
Affiliations: Centre of Bio-Medical Research, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences Campus, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226014, India. ., Centre of Bio-Medical Research, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences Campus, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226014, India., Department of Psychology, Christ University, Bengaluru, India.

Abstract:  The human brain has a remarkable capacity to store a lifetime of information through visual or auditory routes. It excels and exceeds any artificial memory system in mixing and integrating multiple pieces of information encoded. In this study, a group of verbal memory experts was evaluated by multiple structural brain analysis methods to record the changes in the brain structure. The participants were professional Hindu pandits (priests/scholars) trained in reciting Vedas and other forms of Hindu scriptures. These professional Vedic priests are experts in memorization and recitation of oral texts with precise diction. Vedas are a collection of hymns. It is estimated that there are more than 20,000 mantras and shlokas in the four Vedas. The analysis included the measurement of the grey and white matter density, gyrification, and cortical thickness in a group of Vedic pandits and comparing these measures with a matched control group. The results revealed an increased grey matter (GM) and white matter (WM) in the midbrain, pons, thalamus, parahippocampus, and orbitofrontal regions in pandits. The whole-brain corelation analysis using length of post-training teaching duration showed significant correlation with the left angular gyrus. We also found increased gyrification in the insula, supplementary motor area, medial frontal areas, and increased cortical thickness (CT) in the right temporal pole and caudate regions of the brain. These findings, collectively, provide unique information regarding the association between crucial memory regions in the brain and long-term practice of oral recitation of scriptures from memory with the proper diction that also involved controlled breathing. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Authors conclusion is biased. When they say that memorizing the vedik mantras can improve the plasticity of the brain. They should have run a control experiment where they should have analyzed how memorizing some other unrelated text could have affected the plasicity of brain parts. The reviewers and editor seem to miss it. Memorizing anythings like Bob Dylan s songs also could have same effects on the plasticity of the brain. , 
 All your concern is within article and conclusion is not biased. The article clearly indicated that  studies have shown that brain plasticity is associated with various kinds of skill training such as learning or practicing music, golf, video games, phonetics, driving, drumming, word learning, juggling, etc So any skills that have been continuously practice and acquire learn in long term may have impact on brain plasticity. Vedic learning is one of the skills that is acquire with long term rigorous practice hence some effect has been observed. For this study a proper control group was already taken to contrast the effect. However for some other variables a caveat is already clearly articulated in the article such as  some naturalistic differences such as life-style between the groups could not be detangled. These social variabilities across the groups might have influenced biological signals of interest. Though we tried to match the groups on all relevant variables,. ,