Neuroplasticity is not a new discovery

And yet we still have researchers proving the exact same concept over and over again with slightly different takes on it. When will they tackle something difficult like discovering exactly how neuroplasticity works? I think it is the evil way.
Since it is true why are so many researchers still intent on proving it over and over again? The real question should be how does it occur?
How does a neuron signal to its neighbor that it needs help? And why would a neuron drop what it currently knows to take on new functionality? This should be fairly easy to figure out, you can use nanowires to listen in on single neurons or lay a grid across the cortex to listen in.
I see two possibilities,  
do you believe in good or evil neurons?
1. One neuron calls for help to neighboring neurons and they altruistically go to help.
2. One neuron sends out signals that wipe functionality from neighboring neurons and instructs them to copy the sending message.
The earliest mention is an 1896 paper.
http://mindhacks.com/2010/07/06/neuroplasticity-is-not-a-new-discovery/