Meta-plasticity is a term describing the induction of plasticity in a system, which then alters the probability of inducing plasticity later on (Abraham & Bear, 1996). We have expanded the notion of this term, to include also Behavioral Meta-plasticity, to describe behavior-induced plasticity which alters the potential behavior response to challenges later on (Schmidt et al, 2013). Behavioral Meta-plasticity may be adaptive, promoting resilience, or may be maladaptive, increasing vulnerability to developing psychopathologies later on.
We continue to study behavioral meta-plasticity, and its implications to the formation of stress vulnerability and stress resilience.