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“I always thought the brain was mostly hard-wired,” said the study’s senior author, Dr. Rafael Yuste, a neuroscience professor at Columbia University. “But then
by notaboutcode 10y ago
“I always thought the brain was mostly hard-wired,” said the study’s senior author, Dr. Rafael Yuste, a neuroscience professor at Columbia University. “But then I saw the results and said ‘Holy moly, this whole thing is plastic.’ We’re dealing with a plastic computer that’s constantly learning and changing.”
Is this quote being taken out of context or do many neuroscience researchers really think the brain is some sort of static thing? Basic life experience would seem to tell me that this isn't the case. I'm assuming they just mean they haven't been able to observe this reprogramming ability, or do they really think the brain is some sort of immutable object?
- kakarot 10y agoWhile there have been monumental breakthroughs in understanding, the core idea of neuroplasticity is nothing new [1], and that quote certainly strikes me as odd. It sounds like what a neuroscientiest would say if he were explaining the concept of neuroplasticity to a toddler. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroplasticity#History https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroplasticity#History
- blennon 10y agoIt's hard to tell since there's no context but one way I interpreted it is that he used to think it was mostly only the established synapses were changing. Instead, with this new result, perhaps he sees many more synapses being formed, not just existing synapses changing their strength.
- ivanca 10y agoAs Wikipedia points out neuroplasticity is "an umbrella term that describes lasting change to the brain throughout an individual's life course. " This is about changing active neurons in matter of hours/days, without necessarily being lasting, just induced ones.
- omginternets 10y agoI think his surprise is a question of quantity, not quality.