Activity-dependent regulation of neuronal plasticity and self repair

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Item Type:	Article
Title:	Activity-dependent regulation of neuronal plasticity and self repair
Creators Name:	Kempermann, G., van Praag, H. and Gage, F.H.
Abstract:	The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, Laboratory of Genetics, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA Plasticity is an essential characteristic of the brain: it is part of how the brain functions and is continuous while the brain interacts with the outer world. The state of activation and the level of activity of the entire organism affect the brain's plastic response. Brain plasticity has many substrates, ranging from synapses to neurites and entire cells. The production of new neurons is part of plasticity even in the adult and old brain, but under normal conditions neurogenesis only occurs in two privileged regions of the adult brain: hippocampus and olfactory system. At least in the hippocampus, physical activity stimulates neurogenesis by acting on the proliferation of neuronal stem cells. More specific functions such as learning may be able to recruit new neurons from the pool of cells with neurogenic potential. In a broader context neuronal stem cells can likely be found throughout the brain. Therefore, novel approaches to neuroregeneration will, when most effective, make use of the activity-related effects on neuronal stem cells in the adult brain to activate these stem cells in a targeted manner to enhance brain function.
Keywords:	Animal Physical Conditioning, Brain Injuries, Cell Differentiation, Cell Division, Central Nervous System, Exercise Therapy, Hippocampus, Nerve Regeneration, Neuronal Plasticity, Stem Cell Transplantation, Stem Cells, Tissue Transplantation, Animals
Source:	Progress in Brain Research
ISSN:	0079-6123
Publisher:	Elsevier
Volume:	127
Page Range:	35-48
Date:	1 January 2000
Official Publication:	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0079-6123(00)27004-0
PubMed:	View item in PubMed

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