[Brain plasticity. New possibilities in the treatment of nerve damage?]

The article briefly reviews current views on the formation of neural pathways and appropriate connectivity between neurons during the development of the nervous system. The importance of axonal guidance and neurotrophic factors is pointed out. The relevance of these processes to clinical applications is illustrated by a few examples of recent attempts to develop new strategies for the treatment of certain neurological disorders. The prediction is that appreciable progress can be expected in the foreseeable future.