Brain development & plasticity Flashcards
What is gestation?
The time between the conception and birth of a baby
At what age does the number of neurons in the brain peak?
7 months old
Why do some neurons and synapses have to be removed from the brain?
The brain overproduces them
What triggers Apoptosis?
If no neurotrophins are released from a postsynaptic cell, the neuron dies via apoptosis
What is dementia?
A set of symptoms that can include disordered mental processes, caused by brain disease or injury
There are numerous types of dementia
Name some types of dementia
Alzheimer’s
Vascular dementia
Lewy bodies
Frontotemporal dementia
What causes Alzheimer’s disease?
Abnormal build-up of proteins (amyloid and tau) in and around brain cells. There is loss in connectivity between neurons and decrease in neurotransmitters
Do human brains stop developing?
YES, if you consider certain structural and functional aspects such as brain size and the speed of neural processing
NO, if you consider neuroplasticity
Define learning
Acquiring new knowledge or skills through instruction or experience
Define memory
A process by which information is retained over time
What neuroplasticity mechanisms underpin learning and memory?
- Strengthening of existing synapses
- Formation of new synapses
- Elimination of old synapses
- Modification of dendritic branches
