Adult neurogenesis and functional plasticity in neuronal circuits

Nat Rev Neurosci. 2006 Mar;7(3):179-93. doi: 10.1038/nrn1867.

Abstract

The adult brain is a plastic place. To ensure that the mature nervous system's control of behaviour is flexible in the face of a varying environment, morphological and physiological changes are possible at many levels, including that of the entire cell. In two areas of the adult brain - the olfactory bulb and the dentate gyrus - new neurons are generated throughout life and form an integral part of the normal functional circuitry. This process is not fixed, but highly modulated, revealing a plastic mechanism by which the brain's performance can be optimized for a given environment. The functional benefits of this whole-cell plasticity, however, remain a matter for debate.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation / physiology
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Dentate Gyrus / cytology
  • Humans
  • Models, Neurological
  • Nerve Net / cytology
  • Nerve Net / physiology*
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology*
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Olfactory Bulb / cytology
  • Stem Cells / physiology*