5. plasticity and functional recovery

Question 1

plasticity

Answer 1

ability of the brain to change and adapt synapses, pathways and structures due to experiences

Question 2

plasticity in childhood

Answer 2

in 1st year brains have more neurons than ever
as we age our brains are sculpted by our environment and experience, helping babies adapt

Question 3

synaptic pruning

Answer 3

connections not used frequently die and ones frequently used are strengthened

Question 4

research evidence
to support plasticity
maguire et al

Answer 4

16 male taxi drivers vs 50 male non taxi drivers
MRIs analysed amount of grey matter (contains neural cell bodies)
posterior hippocampus (for spatial and navigation skills) of taxi drivers was significantly bigger, size positively correlated to time spent as driver
having to learn altered the taxi drivers brains

Question 5

axon sprouting

Answer 5

axons of surviving neurons grow new branches

Question 5

functional recovery from brain trauma

Answer 5

functional recovery is a form of plasticity where areas of the brain take over functions of damaged areas
happens from:
axon sprouting, denervation super sensitivity, recruitment of homologous areas

Question 6

denervation super sensitivity

Answer 6

axons do a similar job when aroused to a higher level to compensate for lost ones

Question 7

recruitment of homologus areas

Answer 7

opposite side of the brain do simmilar tasks

Question 8

research evidence
to support functional recovery
Danelli et al

Answer 8

case study, boy lost left hemisphere due to tumor removed at 2 with linguistic abilities
intense rehab
by 17 language comparable to ‘normal’
right hemisphere compensated for left

Question 9

plasticity and functional recovery after trauma
EVALUATION
strengths
practical applications

Answer 9

therapy used to improve functions
gradual retraining for brain to reorganise
techniques include movement therapy, electrical stimulation
brain can be changed after trauma

Question 10

plasticity and functional recovery after trauma
EVALUATION
strength
research evidence
draganski and mechelli

Answer 10

draganski et al
brains of jmed students 3 months beofre final exam
learning caused changes in posterior hippocampus and parietal cortex before exam

mechelli et al
found larger parietal cortex in bilingual people
chamges in brain plasticity due to learninig

Question 11

plasticity and functional recovery after trauma
EVALUATION
strength
research evidence
Schneider

Answer 11

schneider et al
patients with colledge education 7x more likely to be disability free 1 year after brain injury compared to patients who dropped out
better education can act as a ‘cognitive reserve’ and at adapting in recovery

HOWEVER
done in america
medical insurance
colledge students= more money for healthcare
extraneous variable

Question 12

plasticity and functional recovery after trauma
EVALUATION
limitations
not straight forward

Answer 12

not lways smooth transition
functional recovery takes considerable effortto do task
feel fatigued
stress and alcohol affect ability to regain function
plasticity affected by other facotrs even when recovers can cause more issues

Question 13

plasticity and functional recovery after trauma
EVALUATION
limitations
gender differences

Answer 13

gender affects extent of plasticity
Ratcliffe et al, 325 patients with brain trauma recieved rehab, followed up year later
cognitive skills, women= significantly better
males better at visual analytical tasks
women had better recovery
questions extent plasticity occurs and rehab programs need to consider gender