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Published on: March 20, 2014
Plasticity diseases
1School of Behavioral and Brains Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA. armoller@gmail.com
Objective:
The aim of this paper is to review the effects of activation of neural plasticity and present hypotheses using a systems approach about how activation of neural plasticity can cause symptoms and signs of disease (plasticity diseases).
Methods:
Literature review.
Results:
It is hypothesized that a program that is initiated by internal or external events controls plastic changes in specific structures of the CNS. Not all structures that have abnormal activity are pathologic but some behave pathological because they receive abnormal input from pathologic structures. The changes in function may remain after the events that elicited the expression of neural plasticity no longer exist.
Conclusion:
Activation of neural plasticity can have beneficial effects and it can cause symptoms and signs of disease. Activation of neural plasticity can help to adapt to changing demands and it is necessary for normal childhood development of the central nervous system. Plastic changes can cause signs and symptoms of disease by abnormal neural activity in pathologic structures and in structures that receive input from pathologic structures. It is hypothesized that a program controls the plastic changes and that failure in activation of neural plasticity can cause developmental disorders such as autism.
Insights
Neural plasticity, the brain
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Systems Biology
- Pathophysiology
Background:
- Neural plasticity is the brain's ability to change and adapt.
- Understanding its role in disease is crucial for developing new treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the effects of neural plasticity activation.
- To hypothesize how plasticity activation can lead to disease (plasticity diseases).
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing research on neural plasticity.
Main Results:
- Plastic changes are controlled by internal/external events.
- Abnormal activity in CNS structures can lead to pathological symptoms.
- Functional changes can persist after the initial trigger has resolved.
Conclusions:
- Neural plasticity has both beneficial and detrimental effects.
- It is essential for normal development but can cause disease symptoms.
- Dysregulation of plasticity may contribute to developmental disorders like autism.
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