plasticity

American  

[pla-stis-i-tee] / plæˈstɪs ɪ ti /

noun

1. the quality or state of being plastic.

2. the capability of being molded, receiving shape, or being made to assume a desired form.

   the plasticity of social institutions; the great plasticity of clay.

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plasticity British  

/ plæˈstɪsɪtɪ /

noun

1. the quality of being plastic or able to be moulded

2. (in pictorial art) the quality of depicting space and form so that they appear three-dimensional

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Other Word Forms

• nonplasticity noun

Etymology

Origin of plasticity

First recorded in 1725–35; plastic + -ity

Example Sentences

In mice given microbes from large-brain primates, scientists found higher activity in genes linked to energy production and synaptic plasticity, the process that allows the brain to learn and adapt.

From Science Daily

The team also saw an increase in brain "plasticity" -- the ability to create or adjust connections that support learning and memory.

From Science Daily

The plasticity of digital information is superseding earlier modes of expression and expertise, as the printing press did the scribe.

From The Wall Street Journal

In one demonstration, the team created a nanopore that mimics synaptic plasticity, "learning" from voltage pulses much like a neural synapse.

From Science Daily

"This finding extends our earlier observations on the remarkable plasticity of microglia states and their important roles in diverse brain functions. It also underscores the vital importance of international collaboration in advancing scientific progress."

From Science Daily