Cognitive adaptability or flexibility is the ability to switch from one type of cognitive problem-solving strategy to another when circumstances change. When this ability deteriorates — whether due to aging, disease, trauma, or environmental exposure — mental behaviour becomes more rigid, and a person struggles to adapt to new cognitive demands and remains stuck in…
Tag: neurogenesis
Mitochondria Help Regulate Activation of Adult Neural Stem Cells
Some adult brain regions have dormant neural stem cells that can be reactivated to form new neurons. But the transition from quiescence to proliferation is still poorly understood. Now, a team led by researchers from the Universities of Geneva (UNIGE) and Lausanne (UNIL) has discovered the importance of cell metabolism in this process and identified…
Oxytocin Promotes Synapse Maturation In Adult-born Neurons
Learning a new task, mastering a musical instrument, or adapting to a constantly changing environment are all made possible by the brain’s plasticity, or its ability to modify itself by rearranging existing neural networks and forming new ones in order to acquire new functional properties. This also aids neural circuit health, robustness, and stability. A…