title: [Structural plasticity in the adult central nervous system].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neurobiological research indicates that the adult central nervous system is more plastic than previously believed. This article reviews structural plasticity in the adult central nervous system.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review is based on literature retrieved from PubMed using the search terms "ltp AND learning", "synaptic AND structural plasticity", "adult AND neurogenesis", "pathology AND neurogenesis" and "MRI AND cortical plasticity".
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Animal studies indicate that a minority of synapses turn over in the adult central nervous system. Learning is associated with increased synaptogenesis. In the adult human brain neurogenesis occurs in the hippocampus and in the olfactory bulb. Adult neurogenesis may contribute to some types of hippocampal-dependent learning, as well as to olfactory function. Increased neurogenesis in ischemic stroke and Huntington's disease indicates an endogenous regenerative response. Enhancing neurogenesis may represent a novel therapeutic strategy. In the adult human brain learning and medication can induce changes in grey matter detectable with MR-based morphometry. Emerging knowledge of neuroplasticity will have implications for theories of learning and treatment of disorders in the central nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Avdeling for nevropsykiatri og psykosomatisk medisin, Nevroklinikken, Rikshospitalet 0027 Oslo. torbjorn.elvsashagen@rikshospitalet.no
authors.forename: Torbjørn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Elvsåshagen
authors.forename: Ulrik Fredrik
authors.initials: UF
authors.lastname: Malt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology