ACTIVITY-DEPENDENT NEURONAL GLIAL AND SYNAPTIC PLASTICITY IN THE ADULT MAMMALIAN HYPOTHALAMUS

''The ultimate aim of these investigations on plasticity would be to correlate the observed structural and functional changes and to understand the way these changes are brought about by use and disuse. Inevitably, such a programme involves questions relating to the control of the manufacture of transmitter substance and to its availability for release by the activated synapses. It would seem more profitable that use gives increased function by enhancing the manufacture and availability of the transmitter substance, although enlargement of synaptic knobs and even the sprouting of new knobs are alternative devices for securing an increased synaptic action.'' [Eccles (1961) Brain Mechanisms and Learning.]