Curtis Cripe: Why Does Neuroplasticity Matter?

Neuroplasticity. The word has become a buzzword in neuroscience. Neuroplasticity refers to the moldability and changeability of the brain. Years ago, scientists thought that the adult brain was fixed and unchangeable. We now know that the brain can grow —mostly by changing the amount of connections between neurons. In fact, every time we learn something new, our brain changes a little, says Curtis Cripe.

We can think of neuroplasticity at several levels, from a brain network perspective down to the synaptic level. At a network level, connections within major brain networks such as the default mode network, cognitive control network, and salience network can be changed. At a synaptic level, there is physical growth of spines and dendritic branches. This growth of dendrites increases synaptic strength—that is, the connection between two neurons at a particular synapse becomes stronger.

Image source: images.pexels.com

Image source: images.pexels.com

Neuroplasticity. The word has become a buzzword in neuroscience. Neuroplasticity refers to the moldability and changeability of the brain. Years ago, scientists thought that the adult brain was fixed and unchangeable. We now know that the brain can grow —mostly by changing the amount of connections between neurons. In fact, every time we learn something new, our brain changes a little, says Curtis Cripe.

We can think of neuroplasticity at several levels, from a brain network perspective down to the synaptic level. At a network level, connections within major brain networks such as the default mode network, cognitive control network, and salience network can be changed. At a synaptic level, there is physical growth of spines and dendritic branches. This growth of dendrites increases synaptic strength—that is, the connection between two neurons at a particular synapse becomes stronger.

This is all great news for people suffering from brain disorders, says Curtis Cripe. The fact that our brains can physically change, with brain networks being moldable, offers hope to improve brain networks that are dysfunctional. Even better, we can now use technology to directly improve dysfunctional brain networks. This new technology, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), uses magnetic pulses to cause changes in electrical activity in the brain, explains Curtis Cripe. As the old neuroscience adage goes, neurons that fire together wire together: As neurons in a network fire together repeatedly due to the magnetic pulses, they form more physical connections via dendritic growth. The more physical connections, the better the network.

TMS works as a complement to therapy and medications, notes Curtis Cripe. Using all these tools, experts may be in a position to mold and improve the brains of people who have been suffering from chronic brain disorders. This provides hope when there may have been none before.