Plasticity

• Plasticity


  • The brain's ability to change and adapt as a result of experience and new learning
  • Generally involves the growth of new connections
• 'Plastic brain'


  • It has the ability to change throughout life - during infancy the brain experiences rapid growth in synaptic connections
  • 2500 per neuron at birth, 15,000 at age 3 and 7,500 at adulthood
• Synaptic pruning


  • Rarely used connections are deleted and frequently used connections are strengthened
  • Enables lifelong plasticity where new connections are formed in response to new demands on the brain