Neuroplasticity is not a new discovery

[image error]We recently discussed how the term 'neuroplasticity' is widely used as if it were a precise scientific concept, when, in fact, it is virtually meaningless on its own. Several commenters suggested that while not scientifically meaningful, it serves as a useful reminder that we no longer think the brain is 'fixed' as we did 'about 20 years ago'. This is also part of the neuroplasticity hype, and, as I'll demonstrate, discussions of neuroplasticity go back as far as the 1800s.

This is not to say ...