BRAIN PLASTICITY Flashcards
BRAIN PLASTICITY AO1
→ ability of the brain to change throughout life as a result of experience + new learning.
→ growth in form of neural connections
→ as we age connections rarely used are deleted + those frequently used are strengthened
FUNTIONAL RECOVERY AFTER TRAUMA
Form of plasticity following injury
Brain is able to redistribute / transfer functions that were performed by the damaged area by forming new synaptic connection close to damages area
• Axonal Sprouting: growth of new nerve endings connecting to undamaged nerve cells to form new neural pathways
• Reformations of blood vessels
• Recruitment of homologous areas: on opposite sides of brain to perform specific tasks
• Denervation Super-sensitivity: axons that do a similar job become aroused at a higher level to compensate for function → but can lead to oversensitivity + pain
BRAIN PLASTICITY
EVAL
MAGUIRE: studied brains of taxi divers + found significantly large volume of grey matter in posterior hippocampus than matched controls. The longer they have been on the job, the more pronounced the structural difference. TS the brain can permanently change in response to frequent exposure to a particular task.
DANELLI: (case study EB) 2.5 y/o who lost almost all of L. hemisphere after tumour removal. At the time all of his linguistic abilities disappeared but after intensive rehab, tested him against controls + found his R. hemisphere compensated for the loss of his left. TS neural plasticity + provides evidence for Recruitment of homologous areas BUT as you get older it becomes harder to form neural connections ∴ INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES – in old age deterioration of the brain affects extent + speed of recovery (CORKIN) BUT BEZZOLA: showed after giving 40-60 y/o 40 hrs of golf training, there where changes in neural representations of movement. ∴supporting the idea of neural plasticity
KUHN: found a significant incr. in grey matter in various regions of the brain after pts played video games for 30 minutes a day over a two-month period. TS neural plasticity + provides evidence for axonal sprouting as growth of new nerve ending incr grey matter
IMP: neurorehabilitation → movement / physical therapy + electrical stimulation to counter deficits
