Professor Earl Miller explains that that the term 'plasticity' is used by neuroscientists to refer to the fact that the brain changes as a result of experience.
Transcript:
When we say the brain is plastic, what we mean is that the brain can actually change how it processes information based on the information it has already processed. So in other words your brain is rewiring itself based on prior experiences. So unlike a computer which is programmed to process information in a certain way and almost always will process it in the same way, the brain changes its programming depending on experience.
Professor Ronald McKay explains that although the underlying machinery of the brain is hardwired, it maintains a huge amount of flexibility to interact with the environment.
Professor Earl Miller explain that the brain, unlike a computer, processes information in a parallel manner. This makes for quick identification of objects.
In the future scientists will create vast databases telling us how neural networks are created, what signals they send. One way of coping with this flood of data will be through neuroinformatics.
Professor Jeff Lichtman describes the process by which our nerve cells compete, which ultimately gives rise to our ability to learn and interact with the environment.