[Successful coping and experience-dependent brain plasticity].

Abstract

Recent progress in brain research has shown that the human brain, i.e., the neuronal and synaptic connectivity especially in higher cortical association centres, is much more plastic and use-dependent than previously thought. This contribution summarizes the present knowledge about this phenomenon of experience-dependent plasticity. Irritation, anxiety and the activation of the neuroendocrine stress-response-system is the most important trigger for the adaptive modification and reorganization of neuronal networks and synaptic connectivity. The experience and successful mastery of a large spectrum of different challenges already during early childhood and during later life diminish the risk of the acquisition and facilitation of maladaptive coping-strategies. Once established, the strongly facilitated neuronal networks involved in the generation of maladaptive behavioural patterns are difficult to reorganize. The experience of loss of control and the long-lasting activation of an uncontrollable stress response may contribute to the destabilization of the neuronal connectivity established in the course of acquisition of such maladaptive coping strategies.