what is brain plasticity

Brain plasticity, also known as neural plasticity or neuroplasticity, is the ability of neural networks in the brain to change through growth and reorganization. It is the process of adaptive structural and functional changes to the brain in response to intrinsic or extrinsic stimuli, such as learning, experience, or injury. The developing brain exhibits a higher degree of plasticity than the adult brain, but research has shown that many aspects of the brain can be altered even through adulthood. There are two primary conditions under which neuroplasticity occurs: during normal brain development when the immature brain first begins to process sensory information through adulthood, and as an adaptive mechanism to compensate for lost function and/or to maximize remaining functions in the event of brain injury. The environment also plays a key role in influencing plasticity, in addition to genetic factors. Brain plasticity has significant implications for healthy development, learning, memory, and recovery from brain damage.