Biopsychology: Plasticity & Functional Recovery After Trauma Flashcards
What is plasticity?
The brain’s ability to change and adapt structures due to new learning
What is the approximate number of synaptic connections between 2-3 years?
15,000
What is synaptic pruning?
The deleting of connections that aren’t used regularly and strengthened if used regularly.
Which group of participants did Maguire study?
London taxi drivers.
In Maguire’s study there was greater volume of grey matter in the?
Posterior hippocampus
What is the posterior hippocampus responsible for?
Spatial and navigational skills
What is functional recovery?
A type of plasticity and refers to recovery of abilities after brain disease or damage
What is axonal sprouting?
Growth of new nerve endings which connect with undamaged nerve cells to make new neuronal pathways
What is recruitment of homologous areas?
Areas from the opposite side of the brain take over the function of the damaged area of the brain.
What does P.A.G.E.S. stand for?
Perseverance
Age
Gender
Education
Stress and Alcohol
Define perseverance is recovery.
A person needs to put in a great deal of effort to recover
Explain the role of age in recovery.
Younger people (below 40 years) have a greater chance of recovery
Explain the role of gender in recovery
Females may be more likely to recover.
Why may females recover better than males?
Stronger connection between the two hemispheres
Explain the role of education in recovery
People are more likely to have disability free recovery if they spent more time in education.
Explain the role of stress and alcohol in recovery
High alcohol or stress levels make a person less likely to recover
How does the cases study of EB support functional recovery?
EB managed to regain some language ability suggesting his brain recruited homologous areas so was able to recover.
Why might it not be possible to generalise the case study of EB to the wider population.
Different genders and ages may experience different levels of plasticity.
Why does research into plasticity and functional recovery have practical applications?
It has led to the development of neurorehabilitation which has shown that the brain can recover from damage e.g. axonal sprouting.
How might research into plasticity help the economy?
If a person can recover this can return to work and increase wages and tax payments.
