Abstract
Recent studies have made progress in characterizing the determinants of critical periods for experience-dependent plasticity. They highlight the role of neurotrophins, NMDA receptors and GABAergic inhibition. In particular, genetic manipulation of a single molecule, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), has been shown to alter the timing of the critical period of plasticity in mouse visual cortex, establishing a causal relation between neurotrophin action, the development of visual function, and the duration of the critical period.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Auditory Cortex / cytology
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Auditory Cortex / growth & development*
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Auditory Cortex / metabolism
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Environment
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Humans
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Life Change Events
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Nerve Growth Factors / metabolism
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Neuronal Plasticity
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Neurons, Afferent / cytology
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Neurons, Afferent / metabolism
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Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / metabolism
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Time Factors
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Visual Cortex / cytology
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Visual Cortex / growth & development*
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Visual Cortex / metabolism
Substances
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Nerve Growth Factors
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Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate