- Spike-Timing-Dependent Plasticity- The timing of action potentials from presynaptic and postsynaptic neurons opened up the research area of synaptic plasticity (Markram et al., 1997)
- Metaplasticity: Keep synapses within a range of activity - makes synapses more adaptable (Markram et al., 2011)

Spike-Timing-Dependent Plasticity (STDP) vs. Metaplasticity

- Structure and function of synapses are intertwined through altering of the structure of neurons while activity-dependent changes happen 

Structural Synaptic Plasticity 

- Cajal- cerebral gymnastics hypothesis: The brain's capacity increases as the number of connections between its cells increases
- Tanzio - The more one engages in specific learning or practice, the more already existing connections (synapses) between neurons are strengthened. 
- Tanzio's therory ties into hypertrophy, the reinforcement of preexisting connections/synapses 

Washtenaw Community College

Mateos-Aparicio, P., & Rodriguez-Moreno, A. (2019, February 27). The Impact of Studying Brain Plasticity. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 13, 1-5. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2019.00066


Mateos-Aparicio & Rodriguez-Moreno, 2019

- Neural Plasticity: Internal or external stimuli influence the activity of the nervous system through reorganization of structure, function, or connections
- Synaptic Plasticity: Changes in synaptic transmission through activity-dependent mechanisms
- Neural Plasticity occurs in more than just humans- also seen in insects

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