Neuroplasticity in Action: Transforming Brain Function through Neurorehabilitation.

The capability of the human brain to redeploy in accordance to the activities and experiences is deemed as neuroplasticity. As a result, neuroplasticity can be visualized as a required adaptation to all brain processes. Broadly classified into structural, functional, biochemical and behavioural neuroplasticity, structural neuroplasticity includes neurogenesis and synaptogenesis. Functional neuroplasticity operates with long term potentiation (LTP) and long term depression (LTD). Biochemical neuroplasticity avails the usage of genes such as apoE and Brain derived neurotrophic factor. Behavioural neuroplasticity utilizes the prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens, two parts of the brain that contribute to the rewarding properties of certain psychotropic drugs, showing plastic changes. Mirror neurons play an important role in neurorehabilitation by employing the process of functional synaptic plasticity. Non-invasive brain stimulation, including transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), deep brain stimulation and scrambler therapy for pain, utilize neuroplasticity for treatment in several disorders such as stroke, autism, Parkinsons, depression, etc.