Brain & Behaviour (prt2) Flashcards
What is neuroplasticity?
The ability of the brain to change its neural structures in order to adapt to change
Neuroplasticity reflects the dynamic nature of the brain, contradicting earlier beliefs that the brain stops changing at a certain age.
What are the two important aspects of neuroplasticity?
- Dendritic branching
- Pruning
What is Long Term Potentiation (LTP)?
A process that strengthens synapses due to the repetition of a task
LTP leads to dendritic branching and an increase in neural density.
What happens during neural pruning?
Extra neurons and synaptic connections are eliminated
This occurs when there is a lack of potentiation due to discontinued behavior.
What was the aim of Draganski’s study?
To see whether learning a new skill, such as juggling, affects the brains of participants
How many participants were in Draganski’s study?
24 volunteers between the ages of 20 and 24
What method was used to analyze the MRI scans in Draganski’s study?
Voxel-based morphometry (VBM)
What significant difference was found in the brains of jugglers compared to non-jugglers in Draganski’s study?
Jugglers showed a significantly larger amount of grey matter in the mid-temporal area
This area is associated with visual memory.
What happened to the grey matter in jugglers after they stopped juggling?
The amount of grey matter decreased
What environmental conditions were used in Rosenzweig et al.’s study?
- Enriched environment (EC)
- Impoverished condition (IC)
What were the results of Rosenzweig et al.’s study regarding the brains of rats in enriched environments?
Increased thickness and higher weight of the cortex, and more acetylcholine receptors
How long did rats need to be in an enriched environment to see changes in the brain?
Just 30 minutes a day
What is neural pruning?
The natural process of eliminating extra synapses in the brain
This process occurs between early childhood and adulthood and helps maintain efficient brain function.
True or False: The enriched environment in Rosenzweig et al.’s study was solely about the presence of toys.
False
It is unclear whether the effects were due to environmental stimulation or social activity.
What ethical considerations were raised in Rosenzweig et al.’s study?
Undue stress or harm to the animals, including isolation and being killed at the end of the study
What are neural networks?
The connected pathways of neurons responsible for specific functioning and messages
Fill in the blank: Neural pathways are developed through repetition and _______.
neural pruning
