Plasticity

In physics and mechanical engineering, plasticity is the property of a material: it will deform if stressed enough and change change. See plastic deformation for more information. Such a material is called plastic. If a material becomes plastic under increased temperature, it has thermoplasticity.

In neurobiology, plasticity refers to a property of a neuron or synapse to change its internal parameters in response to its history. Neural plasticity is hypothesized to be the primary physiological basis for learning.