Brain Plasticity Flashcards
- The cell formed by the two merged reproductive cells.
Zygote
- An organism in its early stage of development; in humans, the developing individual is referred to as an embryo between two and eight weeks following conception.
Embryo
- The unborn offspring; used to refer in humans to the developing individual following the embryonic stage until birth.
Fetus
One of the initial three germ layers of the embryo, the source of skin and neural tissue.
Ectoderm
- One of the initial three germ layers of the embryo that will form connective tissue such as ligaments, muscles, blood vessels, and the urogenital systems.
Mesoderm
- One of the initial three germ layers of the embryo, the source of many internal organs.
Endoderm
- A structure formed by the developing embryonic neural plate that will eventually form the brain and spinal cord, with the interior of the tube forming the ventricle system of the adult brain.
Neural tube
• Neurons and glia originate from cells located in the____ , a layer of cells lining the inner surface of the neural tube.
ventricular zone
- is the process by which a cell replicates its chromosomes and then segregates them, producing two identical nuclei in preparation for cell division.
Mitosis
- Generation of new cells
Mitosis/Proliferation
Proliferation
• Once migration is complete and structures have formed (aggregation), axons and dendrites begin to grow to their “mature” size/shape.
Axon Growth/Synaptogenesis
Formation of new synapses
Synaptogenesis
Between 40-75% neurons made, will die after migration - death is normal and necessary !!
• Neurons die due to failure to compete for chemicals provided by targets
Neuronal Death
- Programmed cell death. Greek word for “falling leaves.”
• When activated by cell death genes, enzymes known as caspases break up DNA and proteins, which quickly leads to cell death.
apoptosis
• By the time a human or other animal is born, much of the wiring of the nervous system is in place.
Neuroplasticity in Adults
• By the time a human or other animal is born, much of the wiring of the nervous system is in place.
Neuroplasticity in Adults
- The ability to change.
plasticity
- A segment of time during development in which a particular experience is influential and after which experience has little or no effect.
critical period
- A synapse strengthened by simultaneous activity; named after Donald Hebb.
Hebb synapse
- The process in which baby animals, particularly birds, learn to follow their mother immediately upon seeing her after birth or hatching.
(Konrad Lorenz)
imprinting
- A neural tube defect in which the rostral neural tube does not develop normally, resulting in incomplete formation of the brain and skull.
anencephaly
the caudal portion of the neural tube fails to close normally.
spina bifida
An abnormal genetic condition resulting from a genotype with three copies of chromosome 21, responsible for moderate mental retardation and a characteristic physical appearance.
Down syndrome
A heritable genetic disorder that produces cognitive and physical abnormalities.
fragile-X syndrome
