Many everyday experiences such as reading a book like this one, classroom learning, drug ­taking,­ or­ stressful­ situations­ can­ result­ in­ changes­ of­ our­ brain­ at­ different­ levels.­ These changes ­can­manifest­themselves ­in­ altering ­both­ the ­structure­ and­ function ­of­ neural­­ circuits .­Neural circuits are built by neurons, which form points of contacts with each other, the synapses .­A­given­neuron ­can ­form­ thousands of­ synapses ­on ­its ­ dendrites, ­cell­ body­ and axon, and through synaptic transmission, communicates information with other neurons in­ the­ nervous­ system.­ It­ is­ at­ the­ synapses­ that­ changes­ in­ brain­ function­ occur­ throughmodifcation­of­synaptic ­transmission­ termed­ synaptic­ plasticity ­(reviewed­ in­[2).­Below ,­a description of synaptic plasticity is provided in terms of its historical context, mechanisms of its ­different ­forms ,­and­ directions ­of ­research ­on­synaptic ­plasticity.