Plasticity in the adult brain : from genes to neurotherapy : proceedings of the 22nd International Summer School of Brain Research, held at the University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 20-24 August 2001

In the past decade neuronal plasticity has become a major theme of modern neurobiology, from cellular and molecular mechanisms of synapse formation in worms and insects to behavioural recovery from strokes in elderly humans. For this reason the focus of interest in the present volume of Progress in Brain Research is on the topic of neuroplasticity in mature organisms, including humans. Contributions range from neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity in the adult primate brain, to neural mechanisms of learning and memory, and the influence of environmental factors and aging on the functional potential of the central nervous system. Several contributions focus on recent developments in neural regeneration and brain repair, providing challenging evidence that the use of stem cell neurotherapy may be beneficial to humans suffering from various neurological and psychiatric diseases. This volume integrates new information on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of neuroplasticity and highlights challenging future questions in this exciting and topical area of neuroscience. Content: Lists of contributors Pages v-viii Preface Pages ix-x Acknowledgements Page xi Neurogenesis in adult primates Original Research Article Pages 3-14 Pasko Rakic Semaphorins: contributors to structural stability of hippocampal networks? Original Research Article Pages 17-38 Anthony J.G.D. Holtmaat, Fred De Winter, Joris De Wit, Jan A. Gorter, Fernando H. Lopes da Silva, Joost Verhaagen Neurotrophins and visual cortical plasticity Original Research Article Pages 39-51 Andrew D. Huberman, A.Kimberley McAllister Dendritic spines: elementary structural units of neuronal plasticity Original Research Article Pages 53-59 Menahem Segal Abnormal plastic changes in a rat model for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy: a short review Original Research Article Pages 61-72 Jan A. Gorter, Fernando H. Lopes da Silva Cortical map plasticity in animals and humans Original Research Article Pages 73-88 Josef P. Rauschecker A brain adaptation view of plasticity: is synaptic plasticity an overly limited concept? Original Research Article Pages 91-108 Aaron W. Grossman, James D. Churchill, Kathy E. Bates, Jeffrey A. Kleim, William T. Greenough Environmental enrichment and the brain Original Research Article Pages 109-133 A.H. Mohammed, S.W. Zhu, S. Darmopil, J. Hjerling-Leffler, P. Ernfors, B. Winblad, M.C. Diamond, P.S. Eriksson, N. Bogdanovic Sex hormones, neuroprotection and cognition Pages 135-142 Christian Behl Memory reactivation and consolidation during sleep: from cellular mechanisms to human performance Original Research Article Pages 143-166 C.M.A. Pennartz, H.B.M. Uylings, C.A. Barnes, B.L. McNaughton Sensory loss and cortical reorganization in mature primates Original Research Article Pages 167-176 Jon H. Kaas Human brain plasticity: Evidence from sensory deprivation and altered language experience Original Research Article Pages 177-188 Helen Neville, Daphne Bavelier Modes of plasticity within the mammalian circadian system Original Research Article Pages 191-203 Shimon Amir, Christian Beaulé, Arvanitogiannis Andreas, Jane Stewart Functional plasticity of the circadian timing system in old age: light exposure Original Research Article Pages 205-231 Eus J.W. Van Someren, Rixt F. Riemersma, Dick F. Swaab What is the adaptive role of neurogenesis in adult birds? Original Research Article Pages 233-254 Manfred Gahr, Stefan Leitner, Leonida Fusani, Fanny Rybak A brain for all seasons: cellular and molecular mechanisms of photoperiodic plasticity Original Research Article Pages 255-280 Michel A. Hofman, Dick F. Swaab Regulation of synaptic plasticity in memory and memory decline with aging Original Research Article Pages 283-303 Thomas C. Foster Synaptic plasticity in the diabetic brain: advanced aging? Original Research Article Pages 305-314 A. Artola, A. Kamal, G.M.J. Ramakers, F. Gardoni, M. Di Luca, G.-J. Biessels, F. Cattabeni, W.H. Gispen Adult neurogenesis: implications for psychiatry Original Research Article Pages 315-342 Amelia J. Eisch Brain aging and Alzheimer's disease; use it or lose it Original Research Article Pages 343-373 D.F. Swaab, E.J.G. Dubelaar, M.A. Hofman, E.J.A. Scherder, E.J.W. van Someren, R.W.H. Verwer Functional genomics and psychiatric illness Original Research Article Pages 375-393 Wendy Hasenkamp, Scott E. Hemby The fifteenth C.U. Ariëns Kappers Lecture An introduction Pages 397-399 Dick F. Swaab, Michel A. Hofman New strategies in neural repair Original Research Article Pages 401-409 Mark H. Tuszynski, James Conner, Armin Bleshh, David Smith, David A. Merrill, H. Lee Vahlsing Regulation of dopamine cell type and transmitter function in fetal and stem cell transplantation for Parkinson's disease Original Research Article Pages 411-420 Lars M. Björklund, Ole Isacson Neuroprotection for Parkinson's disease using viral vector-mediated delivery of GDNF Original Research Article Pages 421-432 Jodi L. McBride, Jeffrey H. Kordower Glial stem-like cells: implications for ontogeny, phylogeny, and CNS regeneration Original Research Article Pages 435-450 Eric D. Laywell, Dennis A. Steindler Induced neurogenesis by endogeneous progenitor cells in the adult mammalian brain Original Research Article Pages 451-464 Eva Chmielnicki, Steven A. Goldman The use of human embryonic stem cells for research: an ethical evaluation Original Research Article Pages 465-470 Guido de Wert Subject index Pages 471-480 Section I. Neurogenesis in adulthood: new neurons in old brains Section II. Brain plasticity: from molecule to neural network Section III. Learning and memory Section IV. Circadian and seasonal plasticity Section V. Neural plasticity in aging and neuropathology Section VI. Cell implantation and gene therapy Section VII. Stem cells: their role in brain repair. Among the many forms of neuronal plasticity that were the subject of discussion at the International Summer School of Brain Research, one was the regulation of the addition and/or renewal of neurons in the mammalian brain during adulthood.