Change in the Brain's White Matter

The role of the brain's white matter in active learning and memory may be underestimated. “Gray matter” is only one of two types of brain tissue; the other “white matter” is rarely mentioned. Yet white matter makes up half the human brain and has not been thought to be important in cognition or...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2010-11, Vol.330 (6005), p.768-769
Main Author: Fields, R. Douglas
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Axons
Behavioral neuroscience
Biological and medical sciences
Brain
Brain research
Cognition & reasoning
Developmental biology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Matter & antimatter
Mental disorders
Myelin
Myelination
Neuroglia
Neurons
Oligodendroglia
PERSPECTIVES
Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
White matter
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Summary:The role of the brain's white matter in active learning and memory may be underestimated. “Gray matter” is only one of two types of brain tissue; the other “white matter” is rarely mentioned. Yet white matter makes up half the human brain and has not been thought to be important in cognition or learning outside the context of pathology. That view could change. Imaging and cellular and molecular studies are revealing white matter plasticity with possible implications for normal cognitive function and psychological disorders.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1199139