Sensory Experience Changes Can Rewire the Brain as it Ages

It has long been believe that much of the wiring of the brain is fixed by the time of adolescence, but a new scientific study shows that changes in sensory experience can cause massive rewiring of the brain, even as one gets older. Additionally, it was found that this rewiring involves fibers that supply the primary input to the cerebral cortex — the part of the brain responsible for sensory perception, motor control and cognition. These findings hope to open new avenues of research on brain remodeling and aging.

The study, which was conducted by researchers at the Max Planck Florida Institute (MPFI) and Columbia University in New York, appears in the May 24, 2012, issue of Neuron. For more information, click here to read the full release.