Biopsychology: Plasticity & Functional Recovery After Trauma

Question 1

What is plasticity?

Answer 1

The brain’s ability to change and adapt structures due to new learning

Question 2

What is the approximate number of synaptic connections between 2-3 years?

Answer 2

15,000

Question 3

What is synaptic pruning?

Answer 3

The deleting of connections that aren’t used regularly and strengthened if used regularly.

Question 4

Which group of participants did Maguire study?

Answer 4

London taxi drivers.

Question 5

In Maguire’s study there was greater volume of grey matter in the?

Answer 5

Posterior hippocampus

Question 6

What is the posterior hippocampus responsible for?

Answer 6

Spatial and navigational skills

Question 7

What is functional recovery?

Answer 7

A type of plasticity and refers to recovery of abilities after brain disease or damage

Question 8

What is axonal sprouting?

Answer 8

Growth of new nerve endings which connect with undamaged nerve cells to make new neuronal pathways

Question 9

What is recruitment of homologous areas?

Answer 9

Areas from the opposite side of the brain take over the function of the damaged area of the brain.

Question 10

What does P.A.G.E.S. stand for?

Answer 10

Perseverance
Age
Gender
Education
Stress and Alcohol

Question 11

Define perseverance is recovery.

Answer 11

A person needs to put in a great deal of effort to recover

Question 12

Explain the role of age in recovery.

Answer 12

Younger people (below 40 years) have a greater chance of recovery

Question 13

Explain the role of gender in recovery

Answer 13

Females may be more likely to recover.

Question 14

Why may females recover better than males?

Answer 14

Stronger connection between the two hemispheres

Question 15

Explain the role of education in recovery

Answer 15

People are more likely to have disability free recovery if they spent more time in education.

Question 16

Explain the role of stress and alcohol in recovery

Answer 16

High alcohol or stress levels make a person less likely to recover

Question 17

How does the cases study of EB support functional recovery?

Answer 17

EB managed to regain some language ability suggesting his brain recruited homologous areas so was able to recover.

Question 18

Why might it not be possible to generalise the case study of EB to the wider population.

Answer 18

Different genders and ages may experience different levels of plasticity.

Question 19

Why does research into plasticity and functional recovery have practical applications?

Answer 19

It has led to the development of neurorehabilitation which has shown that the brain can recover from damage e.g. axonal sprouting.

Question 20

How might research into plasticity help the economy?

Answer 20

If a person can recover this can return to work and increase wages and tax payments.