Introduction

Abstract

Over the past few decades, the plasticity of the brain in response to environmental Stimulation has become widely recognized. The impact of the sensory environment on the developing — and to a lesser extent, the adult — brain has been demonstrated at anatomical, biochemical, and physiological, as well as behavioral, levels. There has been a growing realization that the effects of experiential deprivation upon brain function can be as profound as those brought about by physical damage, and conversely, that certain types of Stimulation may sometimes augment development.