Previously we thought that the human brain was fixed in adulthood.

We now know that’s not the case. “Brain plasticity” is the term we now use to describe the ability of our brains to adapt, learn and grow. A new study published in Nature Communications by Shigeki Watanabe of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine has taken this research one step further. Watanabe studied the activity of the most abundant molecule in the human brain – glutamate. Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter that sends signals to nerve cells to tell them to get active. This molecule isn’t good or bad, however, in certain circumstances, an accumulation of glutamate can damage the sensitive nerve endings. An imbalance in glutamate can contribute to feelings of anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders. In the correct environment, glutamate shapes learning and memory. Glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) work together to balance excitement in the brain.

“With this paper, we uncover how signals are transmitted across synapses to turn on the switch for plasticity,” Watanabe explains. Understanding the mechanisms that switch on plasticity in the brain could have beneficial effects on learning and memory. Watanabe identified the process by which glutamate is released. Then how it is used to relay information between neurons to activate synaptic plasticity. Allowing your brain to strengthen or weaken over time.