Alexei Volkov
Neural plasticity, also known as neuroplasticity or brain plasticity, refers to the brain's ability to change and adapt due to experience. It is the ability of the nervous system to change its activity in response to intrinsic or extrinsic stimuli by reorganizing its structure, functions, or connections. The brain's neural plasticity allows it to reorganize pathways, create new connections, and, in some cases, even create new neurons. This process can occur in response to learning new skills, experiencing environmental changes, recovering from injuries, or adapting to sensory or cognitive deficits. The term plasticity was first used in the context of behaviour by William James in 1890, who described it as a structure weak enough to yield to an influence, but strong enough not to yield all at once.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Neuroplasticity, also known as neural plasticity or brain plasticity, is the ability of neural networks in the brain to change through growth and reorganization. |
| History | The term plasticity was first used by William James in 1890 to describe the brain's ability to change. The term neural plasticity was perhaps first used by Polish neuroscientist Jerzy Konorski. |
| Function | Neural plasticity allows the nervous system to change its activity in response to intrinsic or extrinsic stimuli by reorganizing its structure, functions, or connections. |
| Mechanisms | Neuronal regeneration/collateral sprouting, synaptic plasticity, neurogenesis, functional reorganization, equipotentiality, vicariation, diaschisis, homologous area adaptation, cross-modal reassignment, map expansion, and compensatory masquerade. |
| Stimuli | Learning new skills, environmental changes, recovering from injuries, adapting to sensory or cognitive deficits, aging, and pathological insults. |
| Examples | Video games can cause changes in many brain regions. |
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What You'll Learn
Neuronal regeneration and collateral sprouting
Neural plasticity, also known as neuroplasticity, is the ability of neural networks in the brain to change through growth and reorganisation. It involves adaptive structural and functional changes to the brain, allowing it to adapt and function differently from its prior state. Neuronal regeneration and collateral sprouting are key mechanisms of neural plasticity, facilitating the brain's ability to recover from injuries and adapt to new skills and environmental changes.
Neuronal regeneration refers to the process of regenerating or repairing damaged nerve fibres and neurons. This is particularly important in the context of injuries to the central nervous system (CNS), which includes the brain and spinal cord. While the CNS has limited capabilities for repair, neuronal regeneration can lead to functional recovery. For example, in the case of a crushed or transected spinal cord, neurons exhibit an initial growth response through the upregulation of specific genes. This is followed by regenerative sprouting, where new nerve fibres grow and attempt to reconnect with their targets, restoring synapse function.
Collateral sprouting is a specific type of neuronal regeneration where new nerve fibres or axonal sprouts grow from undamaged neurons, extending towards denervated targets. This process is triggered by an injury-induced environment, often characterised by Wallerian degeneration, which creates a growth-permissive milieu. Intact neurons respond to these external cues and initiate sprouting, enhancing their intrinsic growth capacity. This was demonstrated in an experiment where new axonal sprouts were observed in degenerated regions of the sciatic nerve after an injury, with their density increasing over time.
The concept of collateral sprouting has important therapeutic implications, particularly for nervous system disorders. By understanding and promoting collateral sprouting, researchers aim to develop treatments that enhance functional recovery and slow symptom progression. For instance, in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), there is evidence of compensatory motor axon sprouting and reinnervation of neuromuscular junctions. Drugs that enhance collateral sprouting in such cases may help retain muscle function for longer periods.
Additionally, rehabilitation techniques, such as locomotion training, neurostimulation, and cognitive interventions, can stimulate advantageous neuroplastic changes, promoting functional improvement. These techniques leverage the brain's ability to reorganise and rewire its neural connections, demonstrating the dynamic nature of neural plasticity. Overall, neuronal regeneration and collateral sprouting are essential mechanisms that contribute to the brain's remarkable capacity for adaptation and recovery.
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Functional reorganisation
Neural plasticity, also known as neuroplasticity or brain plasticity, is the ability of the nervous system to change its activity in response to intrinsic or extrinsic stimuli by reorganising its structure, functions, or connections. It is a process that involves adaptive structural and functional changes to the brain.
Rehabilitation techniques, such as locomotion training and neurostimulation, can also stimulate advantageous functional reorganisation. These techniques have been shown to improve mobility and cognitive functions, promoting functional improvement after brain injuries. Additionally, therapies such as specific exercise training, cognitive training, and neuropharmacology are based on the understanding of neural plasticity and its potential for brain recovery.
The concept of functional reorganisation highlights the dynamic and ever-evolving nature of the brain and its ability to adapt, reorganise, and compensate for deficits. By understanding and harnessing the principles of functional reorganisation, we can develop effective interventions and therapies to enhance brain function and promote recovery from injuries or neurological deficits.
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Synaptic plasticity
Neural plasticity, also known as neuroplasticity, is the ability of the nervous system to adapt and reorganise its functions and connections in response to intrinsic or extrinsic stimuli. It is the process of brain changes after an injury, such as a stroke or traumatic brain injury.
The concept of long-term potentiation (LTP) in synaptic plasticity was first discovered in 1973 by Bliss and Lomo during their study of the rabbit hippocampus. They found that repetitive stimulation of presynaptic fibres resulted in heightened responses from granule cells of postsynaptic neurons, leading to a longer-than-expected postsynaptic potential, termed long-term potentiation. When the presynaptic neuron stimulates the postsynaptic neuron, the latter responds by adding more neurotransmitter receptors, lowering the threshold needed for stimulation by the presynaptic neuron. This enhances the synapse over time.
In conclusion, synaptic plasticity is a key mechanism of neural plasticity, allowing the brain to adapt and modify its functions and connections through the strengthening or weakening of synaptic connections. These changes in synaptic strength can be short-term or long-term, with long-term potentiation playing a vital role in memory and learning.
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Homologous area adaptation
Neural plasticity, also known as neuroplasticity, brain plasticity, or just plasticity, is the ability of neural networks in the brain to change through growth and reorganisation. It refers to the brain's ability to reorganise and rewire its neural connections, allowing it to adapt and function differently from its prior state. This process can be triggered by learning new skills, experiencing environmental changes, recovering from injuries, or adapting to cognitive or sensory deficits.
Cross-modal reassignment occurs when brain structures that were previously dedicated to processing a specific type of sensory input start accepting input from a new sensory modality. For instance, in congenitally deaf people, brain areas typically responsible for auditory processing can repurpose to process somatosensory information.
Map expansion refers to the enlargement of a functional brain region based on performance. Frequent exposure to stimuli can lead to the expansion of cortical maps related to specific cognitive tasks. Experiments have demonstrated map expansion by observing the effect of frequent stimuli on the functional connectivity of the brain in individuals learning spatial routes.
Compensatory masquerade is the novel allocation of a particular cognitive process to perform a task. This form of neuroplasticity allows the brain to adapt and compensate for deficits, demonstrating its dynamic nature even into adulthood.
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Cross-modal reassignment
Neural plasticity, also known as neuroplasticity, brain plasticity, or simply plasticity, is the ability of neural networks in the brain to change through growth and reorganisation. It is the brain's ability to rewire its neural connections, allowing it to adapt and function differently from its previous state. This process can be triggered by learning new skills, experiencing environmental changes, recovering from injuries, or adapting to sensory or cognitive deficits.
In the case of congenital blindness, touch or somatosensory input is redirected to the visual cortex in the occipital lobe, specifically an area known as V1. This redirection of input allows individuals who are blind to react to tactile stimuli with greater speed and accuracy. The somatosensory cortex acts as a hub for nerve connections, recruiting the visual cortex to support existing somatosensory pathways, which leads to enhanced tactile perception.
Cross-modal plasticity can also be observed in individuals who are deaf. For example, a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study found that deaf participants used the primary auditory cortex and the visual cortex when observing sign language. Although the auditory cortex no longer receives input from the ears, it can still be used to process visual stimuli. Additionally, cochlear implants may interfere with the ability of pre-lingually deaf individuals to process language. This is because the auditory cortex has been reshaped to deal with visual information, and it struggles to adapt to the new sensory input provided by the implant.
The concept of cross-modal plasticity highlights the brain's remarkable ability to adapt and reorganise its neural connections in response to sensory deprivation or loss. By introducing new inputs and integrating multiple sensory systems, cross-modal plasticity compensates for missing sensory information and enhances overall sensory performance.
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Frequently asked questions
Neural plasticity, also known as neuroplasticity or brain plasticity, is the ability of the nervous system to change its activity in response to intrinsic or extrinsic stimuli by reorganizing its structure, functions, or connections.
Neural plasticity can be observed in the process of learning and memory formation, as well as in recovery from brain injuries or adapting to sensory or cognitive deficits.
Neural plasticity involves the modification of neural connections and behaviour in response to new information or sensory stimulation. This can include the creation of new neural pathways, alteration of existing pathways, and the formation of new connections.
Neural plasticity is important because it allows the brain to adapt and change in response to new experiences and environmental changes. It also enables recovery from injuries and can lead to functional improvements.
