Types of neuroplasticity explained?

Andrew Huberman explains that neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to change itself in response to experience, can be broken down into several key types and mechanisms:

1. Long-Term Potentiation (LTP): This involves the strengthening of connections between neurons through their repeated activation together. It’s often summarized by the phrase "fire together, wire together" 1.

2. Long-Term Depression (LTD): Contrary to its name, this has nothing to do with emotional depression. LTD involves the weakening or removal of synaptic connections between neurons. Both LTP and LTD are critical for various types of learning and memory formation 2.

3. Neurogenesis: This is the formation of new neurons, most prominent in the developing nervous system but also occurring, though minimally, in adults. Neurogenesis in adults mostly happens in the hippocampus, yet it is much less significant compared to LTP and LTD for neuroplasticity and learning 2.

4. Developmental Neuroplasticity: This type happens from birth to about age 25, characterized as passive plasticity, where the brain changes simply through engagement with the world 3.

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     Neuroplasticity Explained

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     Mental Training Insights

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     Understanding Neuroplasticity

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5. Adult Self-Directed Adaptive Plasticity: Extending from adolescence into old age, this type requires deliberate effort and focus. It's how adults can direct changes in their brain to learn new skills or behaviors 3 4.

Additionally, mental training and visualization can also promote neuroplasticity, enabling learning and memory enhancement by harnessing these mechanisms actively 3 3.