2026 Education and FASD International Conference • Oct 23, 2026

Brain Plasticity and FASD

9:30AM to 10:15AM PDT / 45min

Brain plasticity refers to the ability of the brain to change and re-organize itself in response to both internal and external cues. This process occurs throughout life, and allows the brain to adapt, learn new skills, form memories, and recover from injury. Tremendous advances have been made in our understanding of early brain development, and the importance of environmental cues and the people children interact with early in life. These factors provide important clues to understanding both the neurobiology of “learning” deficits in children with FASD and how these challenges can be overcome with specific supportive strategies. This session will briefly review the interrelated processes underlying brain plasticity, some of the critical factors that positively, or negatively, influence brain plasticity, and evidence for the impact of postnatal interventions to promote brain plasticity in children with FASD.