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Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity reflects the brain's remarkable capacity to adapt and evolve, responding dynamically to learning, experiences, or injury by reorganizing its neural circuitry. This reorganization involves creating new neural connections and refining old ones through a series of biological processes that contribute to the brain's lifelong development and adaptability.

Plasticity

Plasticity

Plasticity is the property where an object loses its elasticity and undergoes irreversible deformation, even after the deformation forces are eliminated. If a material deforms irreversibly without increasing stress or load, then this is called ideal plasticity. For example, when a force is applied to an aluminum rod, it changes its shape, but it does not return to its original shape once the force is removed. Plastic deformation or ductility is thus a permanent deformation or change in the...

Long-term Potentiation

Long-term Potentiation

Long-term potentiation, or LTP, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTP is the process of synaptic strengthening that occurs over time between pre- and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic strengthening of LTP works in opposition to the synaptic weakening of long-term depression (LTD) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.

Long-term Potentiation

Long-term Potentiation

Long-term potentiation, or LTP, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTP is the process of synaptic strengthening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic strengthening of LTP works in opposition to the synaptic weakening of long-term depression (LTD) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Hebbian LTP
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Plastic Deformations

Plastic Deformations

Plastic deformation represents a fundamental concept in materials science, which explains the irreversible change in the shape of a material when it experiences stress beyond its elastic capability. This phenomenon is important in structural engineering, especially in designing and analyzing cantilever beams—structures that are securely fixed at one end and bear loads at the opposite end. When these beams are subjected to loads within their elastic range, they will return to their original...

Plastic Behavior

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A material's elastic behavior is characterized by the disappearance of stress once the load is removed, allowing the material to return to its original state. However, when stress surpasses the yield point, yielding commences, marking the onset of plastic deformation or permanent set. This change from elastic to plastic behavior is influenced by the peak stress value and the duration before the load is removed. An intriguing observation occurs when a specimen is loaded, unloaded, and reloaded.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 28, 2026

3D Modeling of Dendritic Spines with Synaptic Plasticity

3D Modeling of Dendritic Spines with Synaptic Plasticity

Published on: May 18, 2020

Structural plasticity of dendritic spines.

Miquel Bosch¹, Yasunori Hayashi

¹The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.

Current Opinion in Neurobiology

|October 4, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Dendritic spines, crucial for neuronal communication, change shape with activity. Actin dynamics within these structures regulate synaptic plasticity, impacting learning and memory.

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3D Modeling of Dendritic Spines with Synaptic Plasticity

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Analysis of Dendritic Spine Morphology in Cultured CNS Neurons

Analysis of Dendritic Spine Morphology in Cultured CNS Neurons

Published on: July 13, 2011

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cell Biology

Background:

Dendritic spines are neuron protrusions housing most excitatory synapses.
Their shape suggests isolated signaling capabilities.
Neuronal activity alters spine morphology, affecting synaptic function.

Purpose of the Study:

To review microscopic studies on dendritic spine structural plasticity.
To propose mechanisms linking actin treadmilling to spine morphology regulation.

Main Methods:

Review of pioneering microscopic studies.
Analysis of actin filament dynamics in spines.

Main Results:

Spine enlargement/shrinkage correlates with long-term potentiation/depression.
Actin filaments are key regulators of this structural plasticity.

Conclusions:

Actin treadmilling is a proposed mechanism for regulating spine morphology.
Understanding spine plasticity is vital for comprehending synaptic transmission and plasticity.