Plasticity and neurogenesis
Shows that the brain's wiring changes with experience — and that drugs can speed up, slow or damage those changes.
Where this fitsConnects to 1 · Unlocks 2
- Connects to
- The synapse: release, binding and termination — Plasticity changes which synapses exist and how strong they are.
- Unlocks
- Glutamate and GABA: the brain's accelerator and brake — NMDA receptors are the molecular switch for 'fire together, wire together'.
- Fast doors and slow keypads: ionotropic and metabotropic receptors — BDNF acting on TrkB receptors supports plasticity and neuron survival.
Orient
Structure of the brain is not fixed; it changes regularly as a consequence of experience and development. Learning and memory are reflected as changes in network structure, through synaptic plasticity – ability of brain to rewire, eliminating synapses and forming new ones – and neurogenesis – producing new neurons. Some drugs can be neurotoxic or decrease neurogenesis; some can increase plasticity.
Course terms
Your professor's wording, word for word from the slides. Learn the term and this definition — the explanation underneath is only there to help it make sense.
- Synaptic plasticity
“Synaptic plasticity – ability of brain to rewire, eliminating synapses and forming new ones”Slides 02, p. 26
Greatest in early life, but persists throughout the lifetime.
- Dendritic spines
“New connections occur at dendrites – dendritic spines”Slides 02, p. 26
An acute increase in spine growth is a proxy for greater plasticity, typically followed by spine pruning.
- Neurogenesis
“Neurogenesis – producing new neurons”Slides 02, p. 27
Once thought not to happen in adults; we now know the brain can grow new neurons.
- Neurogenic theory
“Neurogenic theory of antidepressants / depression”Slides 02, p. 27
The idea that antidepressants help partly by increasing neurogenesis and plasticity.
From your course: Course slides 02, pp. 25–27
Tip: the ← and → keys move through the lesson.
Full lesson: Plasticity versus neurogenesis