Plasticity

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Plasticity generally means ability to be shaped or formed. (It differs from "elasticity", which refers to ability to change temporarily and revert back to original form.) More specific meanings include:

In science

• Neuroplasticity, entire brain structures can change to better cope with the environment. Specifically, when an area of the brain is damaged and non-functional, another area may take over some of the function.
  • Synaptic plasticity, in neuroscience, plasticity is a property of a neuron or synapse to change its internal parameters in response to its history.
• Phenotypic plasticity, describes the degree to which an organism's phenotype is determined by its genotype.
• Plasticity (psychology), an intelligence factor that determines the ease of changing ones perception of a situation for finding a new solution to a problem. Lack of plasticity is termed rigidity.
• Plasticity (physics), in physics and engineering, plasticity is the propensity of a material to undergo permanent deformation under load. In civil engineering, plasticity of a soil is quantitatively determined by Atterberg Limits testing.
• Plasticity (tissues), in body tissues, plasticity refers to the ability of differentiated cells to undergo transdifferentiation.

In art

• The plastic arts are those, such as clay sculpture, in which material is formed or deformed into a new, permanent shape
• Plasticity (Cabaret Voltaire album)

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