MECHANISM AND

CONSEPTS OF
NEUROPLASTICITY
IN CNS
MEISY ANDRIANA MD PHD
DEPARTEMENT OF PMR FACULTY OF MEDICINE UNIVERSITAS AIRLANGGA / ACADEMIC GENERAL
HOSPITAL DR SOETOMO SURABAYA
INTRODUCTION
HISTORY OF NEUROPLASTICITY

• Late 1940s Konorski and Hebb successfully that

• William James first adopting the term to changes there was no better alternative way to think about
in nervous paths associated with the the modifiability of the brain by experience and
establishment of habits; ( 1890) practice.
• Eugenio Tanzi for first identifying the • Hebb ( 1940) : the organization of Behavior
articulations between neurons, not yet called Hebb postulat : Cells that fire together wire
synapses, possible sites of neural plasticity; ( together.
1893)
• Ernesto Lugaro for first linking neural plasticity
with synaptic plasticity ( 1906)
• Cajal for complementing Tanzi's hypothesis with
his hypothesis of plasticity as the result of the
formation of new connections between cortical
neurons. Cajal's early use of the word plasticity
is demonstrated,( 1893-19935)
DIFINITION

• Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain

to form and reorganize synaptic
connections, especially in response to
learning or experience or following injury.

• Four major
processes:
• Angiogenesis, Synaptogenesis,
Dendritic Arborization and
Neurogenesis.
• (Angiogenesis is the creation of new
blood vessels within brain structures.)
MECHANISM OF PLASTICITY

• slow-onset changes,
• Slow-onset changes are anatomic changes neurons, including
axonal growth, dendritic sprouting and neurogenesis--growing
completely new structures,
• fast-onset changes------ activities that occur at the synaptic
level.
• Persistent strengthening of synaptic
connections through excitation
develops long-term potentiation
(LTP), or increasing the potential for
that response to occur,
• persistent weakening of other
connections produces long-term
depression (LTD) of a synaptic
respons
Neuron A Neuron B

Synaptic strengthening

Synaptic weakening
 FACTS ABOUT NEUROPLASTICITY

1. Several different processes throughout a life time . Many types brain

cells are involved such neurons , glia , vascular cells
2. Age dependent determinant– changes all ages , but different kinds of
change relevant at different age ‘
3. Occurs in brain under 2 primary condition
A. During normal brain development when immature brain first begin to
process sensory information through adulthood
B. Adaptive mechanism to compensate lost function and/or to maximize
remaining functions in the event brain injury
FACT ABOUT NEUROPLASTICITY

4. Enviroment plays a role in influencing plasticity

Addition to genetic factor, brain shaped by characteristic of person”s environment
and actions of same person
TEN PRINCIPLES OF NEUROPLASTICITY

• 1. USE IT OR LOOSE IT • 6. Time matter

• 2. Use it and improve it • 7. Salience matter
• 3. Specificity • 8. Age matter
• 4. Repetition matter • 9. Transference generation
• 5. Intencity matter • 10. Interference
REGENERATION

• Spontaneous regeneration is poor in the CNS following damage

• Repair CNS under investigation – nanobiotehnology
• Stem cells promising
• Neurotrophic factors – gene therapy
• Application for CNS repair – CNS trauma, stroke, degenerative neurologic
disorders
EXAMPLE OF NEUROPLASTICITY IN
ACTION
Audition

(images modified from Bavelier et al. TICS 10, 2006)

Enlargement of:

Auditory cortex

Hand representation in motor

cortex

Corpus callosum

Cerebellum

(from Muente et al, Nat Rev Neurosci 3, 2002)

Factors that promote brain plasticity:
- time - therapeutic intervention
- motivation, reward - engagement, interest
- sleep - age (younger)
- pharmacology
Recovery

2 4 6 12 24 36

Time from Brain Damage (Months)

CONCLUTION

• The concept of brain plasticity covers all mechanisms involved in capacity of the brain to
adjust and remodel itself in response to environmental requirements, experience, skill
acquisition, and new challenges including brain lesions.
• Neuroplasticity age dependent
• Brains always finding new and better ways to reorganize neural pathway and even build
new ones