Brain plasticity and behavior

Author(s): Whishaw, I. Q.

Journal/Book: Annu Rev Psychol. 1998; 49: 4139 El Camino Way, PO Box 10139, Palo Alto, CA 94303-0139. Annual Reviews Inc. 43-64.

Abstract: Brain plasticity refers to the brain's ability to change structure and function. Experience is a major stimulant of brain plasticity in animal species as diverse as insects and humans. It is now clear that experience produces multiple, dissociable changes in the brain including increases in dendritic length, increases (or decreases) in spine density, synapse formation, increased glial activity, and altered metabolic activity. These anatomical changes are correlated with behavioral differences between subjects with and without the changes. Experience-dependent changes in neurons are affected by various factors including aging, gonadal hormones, trophic factors, stress and brain pathology. We discuss the important role that changes in dendritic arborization play in brain plasticity and behavior, and we consider these changes in the context of changing intrinsic circuitry of the cortex in processes such as learning.

Note: Review Kolb B, Univ Lethbridge, Dept Psychol, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, CANADA

Keyword(s): dendrite arborization; environmental enrichment; cortex; neuropsychology; experience; RAT VISUAL-CORTEX; DIFFERENTIAL EXPERIENCE; CEREBRAL-CORTEX; GRANULE CELLS; FEMALE RATS; SELECTIVE DEGENERATION; COMPLEX ENVIRONMENTS; DENDRITIC MORPHOLOGY; REARING COMPLEXITY; PYRAMIDAL NEURONS

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