Biopsychology: functional recovery

Question 1

what is functional recovery an example of?

Answer 1

.it is an example of plasticity

Question 2

what is meant by functional recovery?

Answer 2

.where unaffected areas of the brain may be able to adapt and compensate for damaged areas

Question 3

how long can functional recovery take?

Answer 3

.very quick and then slow down over weeks and months requiring rehabilitative therapy

Question 4

what are the 4 stages that happen during recovery?

Answer 4

.neuronal unmasking
.axonal sprouting/bridging
.denervation supersensivity
.recruitment of homologous areas

Question 5

what is meant by neuronal unmasking?

Answer 5

.the idea that the brain is able to ‘rewire’ itself by forming new synaptic connections close to the damaged area

Question 6

what is meant by axonal sprouting/bridging?

Answer 6

.growth of new axons which connect with other undamaged nerve cells to form neuronal pathways

Question 7

what is meant by denervation supersensivity?

Answer 7

.axons doing a similar job get aroused to a higher level to compensate for lost axons

Question 8

what is meant by recruitment of homologous areas?

Answer 8

.opposite side of the brain essentially takes over the damaged or absent side

Question 9

what are the strengths to this theory?

Answer 9

.case study of hemispherectomy support the idea of the brains ability to recruit homologous areas:
-patient EB donelli et al -had a hemispherectomy at 2.5 years old and showed the right hemisphere was able to develop language abilities after some initial aphasia
.research into functional recovery contributed to the field of rehabilitation:
-eg:constraint -induced movement therapy used to improve functioning of an effected body part -shows it’s useful as it helps medical professionals know the interventions that need to be made

Question 10

what was a negative to this theory?

Answer 10

.individual differences:
-one limitation of functional recovery is the ability of the brain to recover varies according to many factors eg: individual education level -Schneider et al 2014 revealed that the more time spent in education the greater the chances of disability in free recovery 40% of those who achieved disability free recovery had more than 16 years of education compared to 10% who did not finish school