Functional Recovery Of The Brain

Question 1

What are the two ways that the brain recovers from a trauma?

Answer 1

Neuronal Unmasking & Stem Cells

Question 2

What is Neuronal Unmasking?

Answer 2

In out body we have ‘dormant synapses’ and when someone is in good health, these synapses are not being used so they sit there, staying dormant

• However, when the trauma happens these are needed to compensate
• This leads to their brains activating the dormant synapses, which can act as cover for those which have been lost or damaged

Question 3

What are the two features of Neuronal Unmasking?

Answer 3

• Axon Sprouting

- Recruitment of similar areas in the opposite hemisphere

Question 4

What is Axon sprouting?

Answer 4

• Axon sprouting is where new axons grow and connect to undamaged areas
• axon is the ‘arm’ of the nerve cell, and helps it to connect to other neurons

Question 5

What is meant by Recruitment of similar areas in the opposite hemisphere ?

Answer 5

This process involves the functions being taken care of by the dormant areas of the other hemisphere

Question 6

What is a stem cell?

Answer 6

A stem cell is an unspecialised cell which has the potential to become any other type of cell

Question 7

What are the three types of Stem Cells?

Answer 7

Direct Implants - replace damaged cells
Rescue Implants - Release growth hormones to repair the others
Neural Networks- form a network linking the damaged cells to undamaged cells to create functional recovery