Biopsych - Plasticity & Functional Recovery

Question 1

Plasticity

Answer 1

Brain’s ability to adapt its structures/processes post-experiences

Question 2

Functional recovery

Answer 2

Brain’s ability to redistribute functions post-trauma/damage

Question 3

Axonal sprouting

Answer 3

Growth of new nerve endings to connect with undamaged cells to create new neural pathways

Question 4

Reformation of blood vessels

Answer 4

Facilitates growth of new neural pathways

Question 5

Denervation supersensitivity

Answer 5

Axons with similar functions to lost ones are aroused to a higher level to compensate

Question 6

Recruitment of homologous areas

Answer 6

Similar areas on opposite sides of brain can perform the tasks the damaged side would do

Question 7

Maguire’s study of neural plasticity

Answer 7

Taxi drivers: significantly more volume of grey matter in posterior hippocampus -> ‘the knowledge’ test of London city streets/routes -> altered structure of their brain (longer jobs = more pronounce structural diff)

Question 8

Kuhn et al research of neural plasticity

Answer 8

Significant increase in grey matter after participants played SM for 30 minutes daily over 2 months (memory & co-ordination)

Question 9

Davidson et al research of plasticity

Answer 9

Tibetan monks who meditated more frequently had greater gamma wave activity (neural co-ordination)

Question 10

Draganski et al research on plasticity

Answer 10

Medical students before/after exams -> learning induced changes in posterior hippocampus

Question 11

Stages of functional recovery

Answer 11

• Trauma/damage to the brain
• Recognition of damage by brain
• Neuronal unmasking (homologous areas recruitment)
• Axonal sprouting
• Reform blood vessels (facilitate pathway growth)
• Denervation supersensitivity