Overview & Description:

Brain plasticity, often termed neuroplasticity, refers to the brain’s ability to change and adapt as a result of experience. This can be both structural (changes in brain anatomy) and functional (changes in brain activity).

Key Points:

1. Adaptation: The brain can reorganize itself by forming new neural connections.
2. Critical Periods: While the brain is more plastic during childhood, plasticity exists throughout life.
3. Experience-Dependent: Specific experiences can shape the wiring and rewiring of the brain.

Implications:

1. Rehabilitation: Neuroplasticity provides the foundation for rehabilitation methods post brain injuries.
2. Learning & Memory: The concept underscores the lifelong capacity for cognitive growth and adaptation.

References:

• Doidge, N. (2007). The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science. Viking.