Guest Lecture: Neuroplasticity Flashcards
Define neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity simply means change in the nervous system.
descrube the historical trajectory of how we arrived at our modern understanding of neuroplasticity
- We though the brain only changed when we were children and that at adults they stay the same.
- Basis of memory/ engrams hebb discovered that neurons that fire together, wire together.
What are the 3 mechanisms of neuroplasticity
- Functional Plasticity
- changing the physiological aspect of neurons.
- changes in neurotransmission - Structural Plasticity
- changes in brain strucutre
- changes in dendrite branches - Neurogenesis
- birth of new cells
- mostly occurs during development
- evidence in adults but is controversial.
what is a critical period and how does it relate to neuroplasticity
- Critical periods are time intervals where the nerous system has an incrediblle degree of plasticity.
- In amblyopia (cataracts on one eye) is shown only in children because of their critical periods.
why can the visual system be used as a model of neuroplasticity
we can see that amblyopia is proof of neuroplasticity. we can use how it doesnt work in adults to compare to drugs etc.
What is the link between neuroplasticity and age to charles bonnet syndrome
Without neuroplasticity people who gain cataracts as adults ,
What is the relationship between neuroplasticity, PTSD, and depression
- Consistently lower hippocampal volumes are observed in people with PTSD and deprersssion.
- the hippocampus is a brain region critical to neuroplasticity.
Define iPlasticity and describe an experiment that demonstrates this phenomenon
iPlasticity = induced plasticity
psychedelics and representatives from each type of anti-depressant can induce plasticity.
How do drugs of abuse exert detriemtnal neuroplasticity
Addiction substances cause neuroplastic changes in the dopamine pathway due to their potent effects. The dopamine begins to over value the drug leading to compulsive behaviour.
