Chapter 4: Brain Plasticity and Brain Damage

Question 1

Name the 5 types of brain injuries:

Answer 1

• Acquired brain injury
• Sudden onset
• Insidious onset
• Neurodegenerative disease
• Traumatic brain injury

Question 2

What is an acquired brain injury?

Answer 2

Brain injury that occurs after birth.

eg. Can be caused by alcohol and drugs

Question 3

What is sudden onset?

Answer 3

The immediate effects of brain injuries.

eg. Caused by trauma

Question 4

What is neurodegenerative disease?

Answer 4

The progressive decline in the structure, activity, and function of brain tissue.
eg. Parkinson’s disease

Question 5

What is a traumatic brain injury?

Answer 5

A brain injury caused by an outside force.

eg. Usually caused by a blow to the head

Question 6

What is a brain injury?

Answer 6

Any damage that impairs, or interferes with the normal functioning of the brain.

Question 7

What is synaptogenesis?

Answer 7

The formation of new synapses between the brain’s neurons.

Question 8

What is myelination?

Answer 8

The growth and development of white, fatty myelin around the axons of neurons.

Question 9

What is synaptic pruning?

Answer 9

The elimination of excess neurons and synapses that are not being used and have not established a connection with other neurons.

Question 10

What is insidious onset?

Answer 10

The long-term effects of brain injuries.

eg. Can be caused by brain tumors

Question 11

When are the most intense periods of myelination?

Answer 11

• Shortly after birth

- In adolescence

Question 12

What is rerouting?

Answer 12

When damaged neurons seek healthier or active connections with other neurons. Detour away from the damaged site to more healthier areas of the brain. (take a different route)

Question 13

What is sprouting?

Answer 13

When dendrites move out and become bushier to establish and strengthen new pathways that have been formed.

Question 14

What is developmental plasticity?

Answer 14

Changes to neural connections due to developmental and learning pre-birth and up to the age of 25.

Question 15

What is adaptive plasticity?

Answer 15

The ability of the brain to compensate for the lost function and/or to maximize remaining functions in the event of brain injury.

Question 16

What is Parkinson’s disease?

Answer 16

A progressive, degenerative neurological condition that affects the control of body movements.

Question 17

Name the 5 symptoms of Parkinson’s disease:

Answer 17

• Tremor
• Postural instability
• Slowness of movement
• Muscle rigidity
• Other

Question 18

What is a tremor?

Answer 18

The continuous involuntary shaking of the body.

Question 19

What is postural instability?

Answer 19

Balance problems

Question 20

Define slowness of movement:

Answer 20

Trouble initiating and executing movement

Question 21

What is muscle rigidity?

Answer 21

Muscle stiffness, where muscles seem to be unable to relax

Question 22

What are other symptoms of PD?

Answer 22

• Speech problems
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Pain
• Sleep disturbances and cognitive impairments

Question 23

What is the neurotransmitter that affects PD?

Answer 23

PD results from there not being enough dopamine, which is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for sending messages that plan and control movement in the body.

Question 24

What does the term plasticity refer to?

Answer 24

The ability of the brain to change in response to experience.

Question 25

Around what age does the frontal lobe fully develop?

Answer 25

Around the mid-twenties

Question 26

What frontal lobe development occurs during the ages of 3-6 years?

Answer 26

• Increase in synaptogenesis

- Child’s cognitive abilities become more sophisticated