Plasticity during Early Brain Development Is Determined by Ontogenetic Potential.

Krägeloh-Mann, Ingeborg; Lidzba, Karen; Pavlova, Marina A; Wilke, Marko; Staudt, Martin (2017). Plasticity during Early Brain Development Is Determined by Ontogenetic Potential. Neuropediatrics, 48(2), pp. 66-71. Hippokrates Verlag 10.1055/s-0037-1599234

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Two competing hypotheses address neuroplasticity during early brain development: the "Kennard principle" describes the compensatory capacities of the immature developing CNS as superior to those of the adult brain, whereas the "Hebb principle" argues that the young brain is especially sensitive to insults. We provide evidence that these principles are not mutually exclusive. Following early brain lesions that are unilateral, the brain can refer to homotopic areas of the healthy hemisphere. This potential for reorganization is unique to the young brain but available only when, during ontogenesis of brain development, these areas have been used for the functions addressed. With respect to motor function, ipsilateral motor tracts can be recruited, which are only available during early brain development. Language can be reorganized to the right after early left hemispheric lesions, as the representation of the language network is initially bilateral. However, even in these situations, compensatory capacities of the developing brain are found to have limitations, probably defined by early determinants. Thus, plasticity and adaptivity are seen only within ontogenetic potential; that is, axonal or cortical structures cannot be recruited beyond early developmental possibilities. The young brain is probably more sensitive and vulnerable to lesions when these are bilateral. This is shown here for bilateral periventricular white matter lesions that clearly have an impact on cortical architecture and function, thus probably interfering with early network building.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Review Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Gynaecology, Paediatrics and Endocrinology (DFKE) > Clinic of Paediatric Medicine > Neuropaediatrics

UniBE Contributor:

Lidzba, Karen

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

0174-304X

Publisher:

Hippokrates Verlag

Language:

English

Submitter:

Anette van Dorland

Date Deposited:

20 Feb 2018 16:40

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 15:08

Publisher DOI:

10.1055/s-0037-1599234

PubMed ID:

28282668

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.107440

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/107440

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