13 - Plasticity

Question 1

chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)

Answer 1

a progressive degenerative disease caused by repeated head injuries

Question 2

experience-expectant plasticity

Answer 2

development of different brain systems by specific types of experience

Question 3

experience-dependent plasticity

Answer 3

modifications of existing neuronal ensembles

Question 4

long-term potentiation (LTP)

Answer 4

change in synaptic efficiency due to high-frequency electrical stimulation

Question 5

kindling

Answer 5

development of persistent seizure activity after repeated exposure to an initially subconvulsant stimulus

Question 6

variables affecting recovery

Answer 6

age
sex
handedness
personality
intelligence

Question 7

Therapeutic approaches

Answer 7

rehabilitation: a variety of experimental, behavioral, & psychological therapies

pharmacological therapies: promote recovery in immediate post-surgery period

brain stimulation: increases brain activity

brain tissue transplants & stem cell induction: being developed in hope of recovering healthy brain function

Question 8

constraint-induced movement therapy

Answer 8

• forces patient to perform tasks w/ impaired limb
• works because motor training stimulates plastic changes in the brain —> enlargement of motor representation of affected limb

Question 9

tactile stimulation

Answer 9

• correlated w/ changes in dendritic length or spine density