2016 Kavli Prize in Neuroscience - Brain Plasticity
- Editor .
- Feb 3
- 2 min read
In 2016, the Kavli Prize in Neuroscience was awarded to three outstanding scientists: Eve Marder, Michael M. Merzenich, and Carla J. Shatz, for their contributions to revealing how the brain reshapes its functions through experience and neural activity. This article will take a closer look at their research results and the importance of these findings to our understanding of brain plasticity.
These studies not only advance our understanding of brain plasticity, but also provide new hope for treating various neurological diseases.
Researchers' Contributions
Michael M. Merzenich
His research focuses on how the sensory cortex is reorganized by experience. He found that when the way fingers are used changes, the brain areas associated with them also change. For example, when certain fingers are restricted from use, the representation of these fingers in the brain decreases, while the representation of other fingers increases. In addition, his research has shown that the auditory cortex can change its mapping of sound frequencies based on training, a finding that helps explain why people can restore hearing function after electronic ear implants.
Carla J. Shatz
Focused on how the developing brain uses neural activity to direct the arrangement of synapses. She found that before birth, spontaneous waves of activity in the retina help establish connections between the eyes and the brain. She proposed the theory that "neurons that fire together wire together," which linked the mechanisms of neural wiring during brain development to adult learning and memory.
Eve Marder
Using simple crustacean neural circuits to explore the relationship between flexibility and stability, she found that although neural circuits can adjust in response to stimuli, they are still able to remain stable. She noted that many neuromodulators can reconfigure the output of adult neural circuits without changing the basic structure.
Three scientists jointly revealed different mechanisms of neural plasticity:
Marder provides insights into how neural circuits strike a balance between flexibility and stability, which is critical for understanding how the adult brain adapts to new challenges.
Merzenich further supported the concept of plasticity by experimentally demonstrating how sensory experience directly affects neural connections.
Shatz, from the perspective of developmental biology, demonstrated how early neural activity affects synapse formation, which enables us to more fully understand the importance of plasticity at different stages of life.
For example, understanding how to promote neuroplasticity could help improve recovery after stroke and treatments for conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. Their research has demonstrated that the brain has the ability to reshape itself even in adulthood, allowing learning and recovery to be facilitated with the right stimulation and environmental conditions.
Their research not only complements each other in theory, but also has important significance in clinical application:
Marder and Merzenich's research provides a foundation for rehabilitation after stroke or other neurological injuries, emphasizing the importance of promoting brain reorganization through appropriate stimulation.
Shatz's discoveries have far-reaching implications for the understanding of learning and memory in developing children, particularly in education and early intervention.
The contributions made by 2016 Kavli Neuroscience Prize winners Eve Marder, Michael M. Merzenich, and Carla J. Shatz provide new insights into how the brain adapts and changes. As we gain a deeper understanding of these mechanisms, we will hopefully have more effective treatments in the future to improve health and quality of life.
