What Is Plasicity

Question 1

What does plasticity refer to? What does the brain experience during infancy?

Answer 1

Plasticity refers to the brain’s ability to adapt and change as a result of experience and new learning. During infancy the brain experiences rapid increase in the number of synaptic connections but as we age some are deleted or strengthened - synaptic pruning.

Question 2

What was originally thought about brain changes?

Answer 2

It was originally thought that brain changes were restricted to young children who were rapidly developing, however more recent research suggests that at any point in life, existing neural connections can change.