title: Dendritic plasticity in the adult neocortex.
abstract: Dendrites are a major determinant of how neurons integrate and process incoming information, and thus, they play a vital role in the functional properties of neural circuits. During the past 30 years, it has become clear that the functional organization of the adult neocortex (and other parts of the brain) is dynamic and can change in response to experimental manipulations that affect cortical activity patterns. A variety of changes in the cortical microcircuit, including changes in synaptic function, neuronal membrane properties, and axonal trajectories, are associated with these functional changes. In this review, the authors discuss changes in the structure of dendrites in the adult neocortex, the sorts of experimental manipulations that induce these changes, and some possible molecular mechanisms that may underlie the changes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, University of California at Riverside, 92521, USA. peter.hickmott@ucr.edu
authors.forename: Peter W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Hickmott
authors.forename: Iryna M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Ethell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003712:Dendrites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D019579:Neocortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents