Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Plasticity
Introduction
Overview
Plasticity generally means ability to permanently change or deform. (It differs from “elasticity”, which refers to ability to change temporarily and revert back to original form.)
More specific meanings include:
in the sciences:
- Phenotypic plasticity: Describes the degree to which an organism’s phenotype is determined by its genotype.
- Neuroplasticity: Entire brain structures can change to better cope with the environment. Specifically, when an area of the brain is damaged and non-functional, another area may take over some of the function. This is known as neuroplasticity.
- Synaptic plasticity: In neuroscience, plasticity is a property of a neuron or synapse to change its internal parameters in response to its history.
- Plasticity (tissues): In body tissues, plasticity refers to the ability of differentiated cells to undergo transdifferentiation.
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