Understanding homeostatic metaplasticity

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingBook chapterResearchpeer-review

Throughout life the brain maintains a remarkable potential to reorganize in response to experience and environmental changes and to compensate for brain damage or neurological disorders (Sanes and Donoghue, 2000). To achieve this level of flexibility, the brain needs to be able to up-and down-regulate synaptic activity while keeping a relatively stable equilibrium of activity over time. The term synaptic plasticity refers to up-and down-regulation in direct response to external stimuli whereas homeostatic plasticity describes regulatory processes guaranteeing stable levels of synaptic activity over time. Metaplasticity refers to the malleability of plasticity (synaptic or non-synaptic) by prior activity (Abraham, 2008).

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationTranscranial Brain Stimulation
EditorsCarlo Miniussi, Walter Paulus, Paolo M Rossini
Number of pages16
Place of PublicationBoca Raton
PublisherCRC Press
Publication date2012
Pages231-246
Chapter9
ISBN (Print)9781439875704
ISBN (Electronic)9780429189425
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2013 by Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

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