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Neuroscience

Light moulds plastic brains

In tadpoles, the number of neurons expressing the neurotransmitter dopamine increases on exposure to light. Such plasticity might allow animals to match their brains' response to environmental stimuli.

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Figure 1: Plasticity in the tadpole pigmentation circuit.

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Thor, S. Light moulds plastic brains. Nature 456, 177–178 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/456177a

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