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5 - Skill learning

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 August 2009

By
Edwin M. Robertson ,
Hugo Theoret  and
Alvaro Pascual-Leone
Edited by
Simon Boniface  and
Ulf Ziemann
Edwin M. Robertson
Affiliation:
Behavioral Neurology Unit, Beth Israel Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
Hugo Theoret
Affiliation:
Behavioral Neurology Unit, Beth Israel Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
Alvaro Pascual-Leone
Affiliation:
Behavioral Neurology Unit, Beth Israel Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
Simon Boniface
Affiliation:
Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge
Ulf Ziemann
Affiliation:
Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt
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Summary

Plasticity as an intrinsic property of the brain

In the course of brain development, very complex processes take place to establish an intricate and highly specific network of millions of cells interconnected by billions of dendritic arborizations and synapses. It is reasonable to think that the brain might be resistant to change once development is completed, given the daunting complexity of these processes and of the resulting ‘end-product’. This notion of a rather static and unchanging brain was the pervasive belief for many years. However, in the meantime, it has become clear that this notion is wrong. The brain does not only undergo reorganization, but it is constantly reorganizing (Fuster, 1995; Kaas, 1997) and this entire volume provides ample support for the emerging concept of a dynamically changing brain.

The brain's capacity to change is referred to as plasticity and we might think of it as an intrinsic property of the human nervous system that persists throughout the human lifespan. An obvious example to lend support to this claim is the acquisition of new skills, to which the present chapter is devoted. The brain is designed to be able to change in response to changes in the environment. This is the mechanism for growth and development, but also for learning. In the process of learning, the brain has to change to be able to code for, and appropriately implement, the new knowledge.

Type
Chapter
Information
Plasticity in the Human Nervous System
Investigations with Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
 , pp. 107 - 134
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2003

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References

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  • Skill learning
    • By Edwin M. Robertson, Behavioral Neurology Unit, Beth Israel Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA, Hugo Theoret, Behavioral Neurology Unit, Beth Israel Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA, Alvaro Pascual-Leone, Behavioral Neurology Unit, Beth Israel Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
  • Edited by Simon Boniface, Ulf Ziemann, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt
  • Book: Plasticity in the Human Nervous System
  • Online publication: 12 August 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511544903.006
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  • Skill learning
    • By Edwin M. Robertson, Behavioral Neurology Unit, Beth Israel Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA, Hugo Theoret, Behavioral Neurology Unit, Beth Israel Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA, Alvaro Pascual-Leone, Behavioral Neurology Unit, Beth Israel Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
  • Edited by Simon Boniface, Ulf Ziemann, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt
  • Book: Plasticity in the Human Nervous System
  • Online publication: 12 August 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511544903.006
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To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Skill learning
    • By Edwin M. Robertson, Behavioral Neurology Unit, Beth Israel Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA, Hugo Theoret, Behavioral Neurology Unit, Beth Israel Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA, Alvaro Pascual-Leone, Behavioral Neurology Unit, Beth Israel Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
  • Edited by Simon Boniface, Ulf Ziemann, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt
  • Book: Plasticity in the Human Nervous System
  • Online publication: 12 August 2009
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511544903.006
Available formats
×