THE PREVAILING DOGMA IN Neuroscience FOR DECADES was that the adult brain is immutable, hardwired and fixed in form, function, and form, so that we are essentially stuck with what we have. Yes, it can create and lose synapses. These are the connections between neurons which encode memories and learning. It can also suffer injury or degeneration.
NICABM – Brain-Smart Webinar Series
FOR DECADES, THE PREVAILING DOGMA in neuroscience was that the adult brain of a human being is immutable, hardwired, and fixed in form and function. This means that we are pretty much stuck with the information we have. Yes, it can create and lose synapses. These are the connections between neurons which encode memories and learning. It can also suffer injury or degeneration.
This view held that genes and developmental principles dictate that one group of neurons will process the signals from the eye, while another cluster will move fingers of the right-hand. Then they’ll do the same thing until your death. The idea of brain books that were lavishly illustrated with permanent ink to show the function, size, and location of the brain’s structures was a valid reason. However, research has proven otherwise. It has been replaced by the realization that the adult brain still retains remarkable powers of “neuroplasticity”–the ability to change its structure and function in response to experience.
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