Myelin plasticity and behaviour—connecting the dots

Publication date: December 2017
Source:Current Opinion in Neurobiology, Volume 47
Author(s): Malte Sebastian Kaller, Alberto Lazari, Cristina Blanco-Duque, Cassandra Sampaio-Baptista, Heidi Johansen-Berg
Myelin sheaths in the vertebrate nervous system enable faster impulse propagation, while myelinating glia provide vital support to axons. Once considered a static insulator, converging evidence now suggests that myelin in the central nervous system can be dynamically regulated by neuronal activity and continues to participate in nervous system plasticity beyond development. While the link between experience and myelination gains increased recognition, it is still unclear what role such adaptive myelination plays in facilitating and shaping behaviour. Additionally, fundamental mechanisms and principles underlying myelin remodelling remain poorly understood. In this review, we will discuss new insights into the link between myelin plasticity and behaviour, as well as mechanistic aspects of myelin remodelling that may help to elucidate this intriguing process.



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