The endogenous biological processes, often upregulated during restorative phases like sleep, that actively restore and rebuild damaged or dysfunctional synapses, neurons, and glial cells within the central nervous system. Effective repair is crucial for maintaining cognitive function, emotional stability, and the complex regulation of the neuroendocrine axes. Clinical strategies are designed to enhance this repair capacity to combat neurodegeneration and chronic stress-induced damage.
Origin
This term is derived from neuroscience and neuroplasticity research, which established the brain’s lifelong capacity for structural and functional adaptation. ‘Neural Network’ refers to the interconnected system of neurons, and ‘Repair’ denotes the regenerative and restorative biological action. The clinical focus is on actively promoting this innate capacity rather than simply preventing further damage.
Mechanism
Repair mechanisms are highly dependent on the pulsatile release of growth factors, notably Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), which promotes synaptogenesis and neuronal survival. Deep sleep facilitates the glymphatic system’s function, physically clearing metabolic debris that impairs neuronal signaling. Furthermore, a balanced inflammatory response, modulated by microglial cells and influenced by hormones like cortisol and sex steroids, is essential for clearing damaged tissue and initiating the subsequent regenerative phase.
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