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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.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 22, 2025

Inducing Long-Term Plasticity of Intrinsic Neuronal Excitability in Neurons of the Dorsal Lateral Geniculate Nucleus

Inducing Long-Term Plasticity of Intrinsic Neuronal Excitability in Neurons of the Dorsal Lateral Geniculate Nucleus

Published on: September 20, 2024

REM sleep promotes bidirectional plasticity in developing visual cortex in vivo.

Leslie Renouard¹, Christopher Hayworth¹, Michael Rempe¹

¹Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, Washington State University, HSB 280M, Spokane, WA, 99223, USA.

Neurobiology of Sleep and Circadian Rhythms

|May 20, 2022

Summary

Rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep plays a crucial role in visual critical period plasticity. This study reveals REM sleep promotes both strengthening and weakening in specific cortical circuits, challenging previous assumptions.

Keywords:

Development Monocular deprivation Ocular dominance plasticity Ontogeny Remodeling Synapse

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Last Updated: Sep 22, 2025

Inducing Long-Term Plasticity of Intrinsic Neuronal Excitability in Neurons of the Dorsal Lateral Geniculate Nucleus

Inducing Long-Term Plasticity of Intrinsic Neuronal Excitability in Neurons of the Dorsal Lateral Geniculate Nucleus

Published on: September 20, 2024

Optogenetic Manipulation of Neural Circuits During Monitoring Sleep/wakefulness States in Mice

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Published on: June 19, 2019

Author Spotlight: Deciphering Neural Circuit Formation from Two-Photon Microscopy and Single Neuron Imaging

Author Spotlight: Deciphering Neural Circuit Formation from Two-Photon Microscopy and Single Neuron Imaging

Published on: November 21, 2023

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Sleep Science
Developmental Neuroscience

Background:

Sleep is essential for plasticity during the visual critical period.
The specific role of REM sleep in this plasticity remains unclear.
Prior research on REM sleep's effect on cortical circuits is limited to specific neuron types.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the role of REM sleep in ocular dominance plasticity (ODP).
To examine REM sleep's influence on layer 2/3 cortical neurons during the visual critical period.

Main Methods:

Utilized 2-photon calcium imaging in awake mice during their visual critical period.
Focused on ocular dominance plasticity (ODP) in layer 2/3 neurons.

Main Results:

REM sleep promotes synaptic strengthening and weakening in layer 2/3 neurons.
Findings contrast with previous studies on layer 5 neurons, indicating differential effects of REM sleep.
Suggests sleep's impact on plasticity is circuit- and experience-dependent.

Conclusions:

REM sleep actively modulates synaptic plasticity in a cell-type-specific manner.
The effects of sleep on neural plasticity are complex and context-dependent.
This research highlights the nuanced role of REM sleep in visual system development.