Chapter 6 - Brain Plasticity and Brain Injury Flashcards
Neuroplasticity
the ability of neural networks
in the brain to change as
a result of experience
Synaptogenesis
the process of forming new synapses
Long-term potentiation
the relatively permanent
strengthening of synaptic connections as a result of repeated activation
Long-term depression
the relatively permanent
weakening of synaptic
connections as a result of
repeated low level activation
Synaptic pruning
the elimination of unused synapses
experience-independent plasticity
a type of plasticity that
involves brain changes that occur regardless of experience
experience-expectant plasticity
a type of plasticity that
involves brain development
triggered by specific environmental cues that the
brain expects to encounter at certain times
experience-dependent plasticity
a type of plasticity that
involves the unique and
personal brain changes that
take place when different situations occur
Rerouting
when healthy nearby neurons create alternative neural pathways when existing connections are lost through injury
Sprouting
when existing neurons form
new axon terminals and dendrites to allow new connections to be made
Neurodegenerative disease
an incurable condition that involves the progressive death of neurons
Acquired brain injury (ABI)
an injury resulting from damage to the brain occurring
after birth, at any time during life
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
an injury that occurs when there is a sudden, physical trauma to the brain from an
external force
Aphasia
an acquired language disorder
resulting from damage to the language-processing centres of the brain
Wernicke’s aphasia
an acquired language disorder characterised by difficulty comprehending speech and producing meaningful sentences
Broca’s aphasia
an acquired language disorder characterised by difficulty producing fluent speech
Concussion
a mild form of traumatic brain injury, resulting from an external force to the head or body that causes the brain to bounce inside the skull
Stroke
an acquired brain injury involving an interruption to the blood supply in the brain or bleeding in the brain, resulting in deterioration of brain tissue
Neurological disorder
any disorder of the nervous
system, including of the brain, spinal cord or nerves
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)
a neuro degenerative disease linked to repeated impacts to the head
Tau protein
a protein required by cells for stability that can malfunction and build up within neurons disrupting important processes and disrupting communication with adjacent neurons
Symptoms of stage 1 CTE
Headaches
Inattentive and poor concentration
Mild aggression
Explosivity
Mild memory dysfunction
Mild depressive symptoms
A finite number of isolated clusters of tau protein in specific parts of the brain
Symptoms of stage 2 CTE
Cognitive and memory dysfunction increases
Behavioural changes
Aggression increases
Explosivity increases
Depression increases
Suicidality
Multiple clusters of tau protein
Symptoms of stage 3 CTE
Cognitive and memory dysfunction
Mild dementia
Executive dysfunction (eg difficulty planning, problem solving, organising, managing time)
Aggression increases
Explosivity increases
Depression increases
Suicidality
Moderate tau deposition
Reduction in brain weight
Mild atrophy of the brain
Symptoms of stage 4 CTE
Severe cognitive and memory dysfunction, including language deficits
Severe dementia
Paranoia
Pervasive aggression
Pervasive explosivity
Depression
Suicidality
Motor symptoms, including Parkinson’s disease
Severe tau deposition across most brain regions
Significant decrease in brain weight
Profound global atrophy of the brain due to widespread neuronal loss
