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Question 1

what is neural plasticity?

Answer 1

is the ability of the brain to form and reorganize synaptic connections, especially in response to learning or experience or following injury.

Question 2

what is adaptive plasticity?

Answer 2

adaptive plasticity is the brain’s ability to reorganise and change the structure, forming new connections in order to relocate or reassign functional areas within the brain. such as changes enable adjustment to new experiences, to recover or compensate for lost function, and to maximise remaining functions in the event of brain damage or injury or stroke

it is determined by brain injury or in adjustment to new experiences

Question 3

what are the neuronal changes to developmental plasticity?

Answer 3

Proliferation - (unborn baby’s cells that will become neurons divide and multiply, creating approximately 250 000 cells per minute.)

Neural migration- (newly formed neurons move
outward to their destined location. The role that a particular neuron might have is determined by where it is located at its time of formation)

Synaptogenesis- (Infant’s brains form far more synaptic connections than will ever be used)

Synaptic pruning -(remove surplus connections) Myelination (the axons of the neurons in the child’s brain become covered in myelin, is the final stage that needs to happen for a brain to become fully mature)

Question 4

what are the neuronal changes to adaptive plasticity?

Answer 4

re-routing (when the neuron takes a different route (path) to connect with another neuron)

and

sprouting
(is when the neuron grows more branches to make more connections with other neurons

Question 5

what is long term potentiation(LTP)?

Answer 5

long-term potentiation is the long-lasting strengthening of synaptic connections through activity at the synapse, resulting in enhanced or more effective synaptic transmission; compare with long-term depression

Question 6

what is long-term depression(LTD)?

Answer 6

as long-term depression is the long-lasting decrease in the strength of synaptic connections and transmission through lack of stimulation of pre-and postsynaptic neurons or prolonged low-level stimulation; compare with long-term potentiation

Question 7

what is developmental plasticity

Answer 7

the brain’s natural ability to, especially during infancy to change neural structures and form new connections in order to process sensory information from environmental stimulation as experiences during its growth and development

it is determined by genetics it occurs to the initial processing of sensory information by the immature brain

Question 8

when does plasticity within the brain occour?

Answer 8

it occurs

• at the beginning of life, when the immature brain organises itself
• in cases of brain injury, to compensate for lost functions or to maximise remaining functions
• throughout adulthood, whenever something new is learned and memorised