Does Neuroplasticity Stop At A Particular Age?
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to change and adapt in response to experience. It is a relatively new concept in neuroscience, and there is still much to learn about it. One of the questions that scientists are still exploring is whether neuroplasticity stops at a particular age.
Some research suggests that neuroplasticity may decrease with age. For example, one study found that the brains of older adults were less able to change in response to a new task than the brains of younger adults (Anderson et al., 2010). However, it is important to keep in mind that this study only looked at a small sample of people, and more research is needed to confirm these findings.
Other studies have found evidence that neuroplasticity does not necessarily decrease with age. For example, one study found that older adults showed just as much neuroplasticity as younger adults when they were learning a new motor skill (Taub et al., 2011).
So, does neuroplasticity stop at a particular age? The answer is not yet clear. However, the available evidence suggests that neuroplasticity may decline with age in some people, but not others. More research is needed to explore this question further.
References:
Anderson, B. D., Shors, T. J., & Sebranek, J. (2010). Age-related differences in brain plasticity: A review of perceptual learning. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 34(1), 21-35. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2009.05.002
Taub, E., Uswatte, G., Pidikiti, R., & Morris, D. M. (2011). Age-Related Differences in Motor Cortical Plasticity Following Rehabilitation After Injury to the Central Nervous System: A Randomized Clinical Trial. PLoS ONE, 6(8), e23223. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0023223