2017/12/01 by Cassandra Sampaio‐Baptista, Heidi Johansen‐Berg · 1 citation
Medicine · Neuroscience · Psychology · #Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications #Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms #Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research #Neuroscience #Neuroplasticity #White matter #Plasticity #Psychology #Synapse #Neuroimaging #Cognitive science #Medicine
paper · pdf · doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2017.11.026
openalex publication_date 2017/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
The study of brain plasticity has tended to focus on the synapse, where well-described activity-dependent mechanisms are known to play a key role in learning and memory. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that plasticity occurs beyond the synapse. This review focuses on the emerging concept of white matter plasticity. For example, there is growing evidence, both from animal studies and from human neuroimaging, that activity-dependent regulation of myelin may play a role in learning. This previously overlooked phenomenon may provide a complementary but powerful route through which experience shapes the brain.