Neuroplasticity and psychiatry

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neurophysiology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Increasing concern exists regarding how psychiatric disorder parameters, like symptom duration and intensity, affect illness course.
• Abnormal brain function during psychiatric episodes may lead to long-term neural changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the neuroscience literature on neuroplasticity.
• To discuss the relevance of neuroplasticity findings to psychiatric disorders.

Main Methods:

• Selective review of the neuroscience literature.
• Focus on physiological experiments assessing plasticity in the mammalian neocortex.

Main Results:

• Neuroplasticity occurs in adult neocortex, not just during development.
• Neuroplasticity is activity-dependent, strengthening frequently used pathways and weakening infrequently used ones.

Conclusions:

• Neurophysiological findings support the clinical observation that psychiatric disorder intensity and duration can worsen long-term outcomes.
• Prompt, aggressive treatment may prevent adverse long-term changes.
• Pharmacotherapy's effects on neuroplasticity require further investigation.