Look up plasticity in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

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

• 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.
  • Metaplasticity, the plasticity of the plasticity of brain activity.
  • Synaptic plasticity, in neuroscience, plasticity is a property of a neuron or synapse to change its internal parameters in response to its history.
• 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 (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 (tissues), in body tissues, plasticity refers to the ability of differentiated cells to undergo transdifferentiation.

In art

• The plastic arts are those, such as clay sculpture, in which material is formed or deformed into a new, permanent shape.
• Plasticity is an album by the band Cabaret Voltaire.

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