Biopsychology- Plasticity and functional recovery

Question 1

Brain plasticity definition

Answer 1

Capacity of the brain to change and adapt (structure and function) in response to learning and experience

Question 2

Synaptic pruning definition

Answer 2

Competing neutrons in your brain- latch onto synapse- 1st one gets nourished other falls away

Question 3

As we age what happens to connections- what is this known as?

Answer 3

Rarely used connections are deleted, frequent ones are strengthened- (synaptic pruning)

Question 4

Maguire et al (2000)- plasticity research
Procedure:

Answer 4

MRI scans used- 16 right-handed male London taxi drivers (>1.5 yrs driving)
Control Scanned- 50 healthy right-handed males didn’t drive taxis (comparison)

Question 5

What design was Maguire study?

Answer 5

Independent group design

Question 6

What experimental design was maguire?

Answer 6

Quasi- not directly manipulated independent variable

Question 7

Maguire- plasticity findings

Answer 7

Increased grey matter in taxi (right + left hippocampi) compared to control
Found in posterior hippocampus (spatial awareness and navigation)
Longer in job- >structural difference

Question 8

What can be inferred from maguire study?

Answer 8

More practise task, more brain adapts and changes

Question 9

Maguire A03- validity

Answer 9

Population validity : low- male and London
Internal validity: high- standardised, very controlled
BUT individual differences (ppt variables affect?)

Question 10

Maguire A03- correlational evidence + scanning

Answer 10

Correlational evidence: positive ( years driving and grey matter)- assuming is reason : could be learnt
Use of scanning: empirical, objective

Question 11

What is functional plasticity/recovery?

Answer 11

The ability for brain to move functions from damaged area after trauma to undamaged area

Question 12

What is neural reorganisation

Answer 12

Existing pathways inactive or used other purpose take over functions lost bc of injury

Question 13

What is neuronal unmasking

Answer 13

Brain rewires and reorganises by forming new synaptic connections close to area of damage

Question 14

What does spontaneous recovery mean

Answer 14

Process of functional recovery happens quickly after trauma and slows after weeks/months

Question 15

What does the recruitment of homologous areas mean

Answer 15

Areas on opposite sides of brain take on tasks performed by damaged area- if has healed functions can return to normal

Question 16

Functional recovery A03- research support

Answer 16

Danelli (EB case study)
- large tumour removed from left hemisphere 2.5 yrs old
-language disappeared
-began to improve even though almost all of left hemisphere was removed
-right hemisphere compensated for left
- recruitment of homologous areas
SUPPORTS BC BRAIN CAN REDISTRIBUTE FUNCTION TO UNDAMAGED AREAS

Question 17

Danelli counter point:

Answer 17

Language caught up after 2.5 years- extensive and did not return to 100% so not immediate

-only 1 guy
- shouldn’t generalise findings bc unique case?
-idiographic

Question 18

Functional recovery A03- Practical applications

Answer 18

-lead to neurorehabilitation (recover from brain damage)
- eg. Constraint- induced movement forces use of limb by restraint of other
-helps stimulate brain to quickly reorganise itself- encourages axon sprouting
CAN HELP MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS!!

Question 19

Counter argument to brain adapting after trauma

Answer 19

• phantom limb syndrome 60% amputees
  -neurological pain in limb that’s been amputated
• no neural reorganisation or reorganisation has failed and led to negative consequences

WHAT EXTENT CAN PLASTICITY HAPPEN? MALFUNCTIONS ALONG THE WAY?