Discussion of developmental plasticity: factors affecting cognitive outcome after pediatric traumatic brain injury.

Current research on plasticity has altered the over simplistic view of greater capacity in the developing brain after injury. In another paper in this issue, Dennis provides a model to elucidate the complexity of the multiple factors that influence recovery after brain injury in children. The authors present a brief summary of findings from their longitudinal research in neurobehavioral recovery after traumatic brain injury in children and adolescents that elaborates on the framework of Dennis. The discussion highlights the psychobiological factors that interact to define developmental plasticity and outlines promising directions for future research to elucidate and promote long-term recovery in pediatric brain-injured populations.