day 1 : 1 topic on biopsych Flashcards
What is plasticity?
The brains tendency to change and adapt as result of experiences and new learning.
What is research into plasticity?
Eleanour maigure et al 2000 studied the brain of London taxi drivers and found significantly more volume of grey matter in the posterior hippocampus than in a matched control group. ( part of the brain that is associated with development of spatial and navigational skills)
As part of their training, london cab drivers must take a test called “the knowledge” which asses their recall of city streets and possible routes
It appears result of this learning experience altered the structure of taxi drivers brains
The longer they have been in the job, more pronounced was structural differences
What is functional recovery?
form of plasticity.
Following damage through trauma, the brain’s ability to redistribute or transfer functions usually performed by damaged area to undamaged area
What is able to happen during functional recovery?
5 things
Brain is able to rewire and reorganise itself by forming new synaptic connections close to the area of damage
Secondary neural pathways that would not typically be used to carry out certain functions are activated to enable functioning to continue ( Doidge 2007)
Axonal sprouting = the growth of new nerve endings which connect with other undamaged nerve cells to form neuronal pathways.
Reformation of blood vessels
Recruitment of homologous= areas on the opposite side of the brain to perform specific tasks
what is evaluation of brain plasticity
Practical application
Understanding processes involved in plasticity has contributed to the field of neurorehabilitation. Following illness or injury to the brain the recovery slows down after a number of weeks so physical therapy may be required to maintain improvement in functioning. Techniques include movement therapy. This shows that, although the brain may have the capacity to fix itself. This process requires further intervention if it is to completely be successful.
Negative plasticity
The brain’s ability to rewire itself can sometimes have maladaptive behavioural consequences. Prolong drug use for instance has been shown to result in poor cognitive functioning as well as in increase risk of dementia in later life ( medina et al 2007)
Support from animal studies
Early evidence of neuroplasticity and functional recovery was derived from animal studies. David Hubel and torsten Wiesel (1963) involved sewing one eye of kitten shut and analysing the brain’s cortical responses. It was found that the area of the visual cortex associated with shut eye was not idle but continued to process information from the open eye. early studies like this paved the way for modern research into neuroplasticity and functional recovery.
