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
- 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 (sociology), is the capacity for positive change in response to environmental demands.
- 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.
- Metaplasticity, the plasticity of synaptic plasticity.
- Phenotypic plasticity, in biology, describes the ability of an organism to change its phenotype in response to changes in the environment
- 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 (tissues), in body tissues, plasticity refers to the ability of differentiated cells to undergo transdifferentiation.
In art
The above article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the copyrighted Wikipedia "Plasticity" article.
