Brain Plasticity And Functional Recovery

Question 1

What is brain plasticity

Answer 1

Brain has the ability to change throughout life

Question 2

What is synaptic pruning

Answer 2

As we age rarely used connections are deleted and frequently used connections are strengthened

Question 3

What is plasticity

Answer 3

At any time in life existing neural connections can change or new ones can be formed through learning and experience

Question 4

Maguire et al 2000

Answer 4

Studied taxi driver brains
Found that more grey matter in hippocampus- part of the brain that is associated with navigation) in taxi drivers

Question 5

What happens as a result of trauma

Answer 5

Unaffected areas of the brain are able to adapt and compensate for the area damaged
Process can occur quickly (spontaneous recovery)

Question 6

How can the brain rewire itself during recovery

Answer 6

Forming new synaptic connections close to area that’s been damaged

Question 7

Structural changes for recovery include:

Answer 7

Axonal sprouting- growth of new nerve endings to form new neuronal pathways
Reformation of blood cells
Recruitment or homologous areas on the opposite side of the brain to perform specific tasks

Question 8

What is mindfulness mediation

Answer 8

A focus on one’s emotions thoughts and sensations occurring in present moment

Question 9

Case studies

Answer 9

Lazar et al 2005- mediators thicker cortex than none
Holzel et al 2011- showed increase grey matter when mediating
Tang et al 2012- 4 weeks of mediation increased white matter which helps self regulation