brain plasticity and functional recovery Flashcards
What is plasticity?
The brain adapting in its function and structure, because of a change in the environment
What are 4 reasons for plasticity?
Learning new skills
Result of developmental changes
Response to direct trauma to area of the brain
Response to indirect effects of damage e.g. brain bleeding/swelling
What is functional recovery?
The functions that were performed by areas of the brain that are lost or damaged, being performed by undamaged areas of the brain
What is synaptic pruning?
(brain plasticity)
Synapses that are used, frequently become stronger over time and unused synaptic connections are lost
Makes the brain a more efficient communication system over time
What is axonal sprouting?
(brain plasticity)
Existing neurons growing new axons, to connect to adjacent neurons
What is denervation supersensititvity?
What is it’s side effect?
(brain plasticity)
Compensates for the loss of axons in a pathway
The remaining axons become more sensitive>more likely to fire
Side effects=pain
What are 3 factors affecting functional recovery? Explain each
Age- children have the best ability to recover
Gender- women are more able to recover from brain damage
Rehabilitative therapy- focussed effort>improvement
What is constraint induced therapy?
Stopping patients from using coping strategies e.g. body language for communication
This makes them improve via functional reorganisation
What did Maguire et al. study?
What did they find?
Structural MRI brain scans of 16 male London taxi drivers were compared to brain scans of 16 matched (age, gender) non taxi drivers
The posterior hippocampi in taxi drivers were found to be significantly larger
What does Maguire et al. study suggest?
What is a strength of his study?
Physical structure of the brain is plastic, able to reconfigure to better adapt demands
+ object scientific methods (MRI)
Who was 14 year old EB?
At 2.5 years old, EB had a hemispherectomy on the left side of his brain, to remove a tumour
This removed the language centres of Broca’s and Wernicke’s area
What happened top EB after his hemispherectomy?
Immediately after the surgery, he had lost all language ability
2 years of recovery EB recovered his language ability
Without his left hemisphere, he could still develop normally, except from dyslexia
What does EB’s case suggest?
The brain can adapt and recover after significant damage, especially early in life
His right hemisphere took roles, usually performed by the left
What are the real-world application of plasticity and functional recovery?
Rehabilitative therapy- helping people return to their lives and productive work, benefitting the economy
How has plasticity and functional recovery helped psychologists?
Helped them understand more about the functions and regions of the brain that were initially
