Biopsychology: Lesson 8 - Plasticity and Functional Recovery Flashcards
What is brain plasticity?
The brains ability to change and adapt as a result of experience
Plasticity allow the brain to cope better with the indirect effects of brain damage
What is the relationship between life experience and plasticity?
Nerve Pathways that are used frequently develop stronger connections, those that are rarely used eventually die
Developing new connections and reducing weak ones to a changing environment
Cognitive functioning decreases with age
Boyke at al 2008 : taught 60 year olds a new skill (juggling) which increased their grey matter in their visual cortex
What is the relationship between video games and plasticity?
Playing video games caused a significant increase in grey matter in the visual cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum
Playing video games results in new synaptic connections in brain areas involved in spatial navigation, strategic planning, working memory and motor performance
Kuhn et al (2014) compared a control group to a group who had been given video game training for at least 30 minutes a day for two months on the game
What is functional recovery?
A form of plasticity
Following damage caused by trauma, the brain can redistribute or transfer functions usually performed by damaged areas to other undamaged areas
Who recovers from brain injury quicker - men or women?
Women
What is the relationship between a maturing brain and recovery from trauma?
When the brain is still maturing, recovery from trauma is more likely (Elbert et al. 2001)
However, the brain is capable of plasticity and functional recovery at any age
What is neural reorganisation?
The transfer of function from damaged areas of the brain to undamaged ones can occur
What is neural regeneration?
The growth of neurons and connections (axons and dendrites) to compensate for damaged areas
What is axon sprouting?
When new nerve endings grow and connect with other undamaged nerve cells to form new neural pathways
(Is a part of neural regeneration)
Why is physiotherapy often carried out after brain trauma?
Because spontaneous recovery from a brain injury tends to slow down after a number of weeks
Physiotherapy may be required to maintain improvements in functioning
Techniques can include movement therapy and electrical stimulation of n to counter deficits in motor and cognitive functioning that can be experienced following a stroke
