Image of the Week

Putting the Brakes on Brain Changes

  • Published20 Dec 2016
  • Reviewed20 Dec 2016
  • Source BrainFacts/SfN

Called perineuronal nets (and pictured here in pink in a mouse brain), these structures help inhibit the signals between neurons and keep current connections intact.
Sorg, et al. The Journal of Neuroscience, 2016.

Far from being an inert mass of gray tissue, the human brain constantly remodels itself — neurons establish new connections, or synapses, and retract others. This remodeling, called synaptic plasticity, is important for learning and memory, as scientists believe that memories are located in the connections between neurons. But forming lasting connections requires some stability, and scientists have found a web of proteins surrounding individual brain cells that help keep plasticity under control.

Called perineuronal nets (and pictured above in pink in a mouse brain), these structures help inhibit the signals between neurons and keep current connections intact. Scientists believe this helps us lock in our memories by preventing further changes to the synapses where those memories live.

CONTENT PROVIDED BY

BrainFacts/SfN

Image of the Week

Check out the Image of the Week Archive.

Explore

Neuroscience in the News

Check out the latest news from the field.

Read More

Research & Discoveries

See how discoveries in the lab have improved human health.

Read More