Lec 5 Neurophysiology Part 4: Neuroplasticity

Question 1

Define Neuroplasticity

Answer 1

Change in neural pathways caused by changes in neural pathways and synapses caused by changes in behavior, environment, and neurological injury

Question 2

Brain is constantly changing. What is the term “Use it or Lose It” mean?

Answer 2

Resources in the brain are limited, and if necessary, brain will need to optimize for new tasks that are more likely to be used

Question 3

How does “Use it or Lose It” apply to areas like intellect and personality?

Answer 3

Adapting in a way one reasons, and how their personality changes over the years

Question 4

How does the brain change? Name (2) main ways

Answer 4

1) Large changes in the inhibition of excitatory pathways

2) Synapses can be weighted differently

Question 5

What is an example in “changes in inhibition of excitatory pathway”?

Answer 5

Immediately after an injury will result in a decrease in GABA, and this will excite the nervous system
…Spinal Cord Injury

Question 6

How can a “change in synaptic weights, specifically” be initiated?

Answer 6

Long term Potentiation (LTP)

Long Term Depression (LTD)

Question 7

What is Long Term Potentiation (LTP)?

Answer 7

Increase in strength of an excitatory synapse

Question 8

What is Long Term Depression (LTD)?

Answer 8

Decrease in strength of an excitatory synapse

Question 9

This type of learning is related to Pavlov’s Associated Learning. What is Hebian Learning?

Answer 9

Neurons in the CNS connect to other neurons. Connections that are used more frequently, reinforced, or strengthened will adapt to that pathway.

Question 10

In Long Term Potentiation, What is commonly studied?

Answer 10

Hippocampal Cells

Question 11

How does Potentiation work?

Answer 11

Continuous stimulation will allow a stronger response, which is the flow of more memory (ions, Na & Ca) by opening of channels and more stimulation.

Question 12

Neurogenesis is building of new neurons, but does not contribute much. What is Synaptogenesis?

Answer 12

Existing neurons and axons can branch out to other axons & connect to other cells

Question 13

Where do large changes of neuroplasticity occur? Provide an example.

Answer 13

Cerebral Cortex
Example: If someone’s needs to have a finger amputated, large changes will show in cerebral cortex.
Topographical map will adjust and show more use of the adjacent fingers

Question 14

What are some brain imaging studies to provide evidence for Neuroplasticity?

Answer 14

Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI)
fMRI
Transcranrial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Question 15

Neurons of the Central Nervous System can’t recreate itself, but it can…

Answer 15

create new connections with other neurons and

find the best away to adjust and function

Question 16

What is the most important saying to get out of the Neuroplasticity lecture?

Answer 16

“What fires together, wires together”

Question 17

**Go Over Notes & Recording for Specifics in Neuroplasticity in Rehabilitation

Answer 17

(59:30)

Question 18

What are Neuroprosthetics?

Answer 18

Devices that work with the nervous system to restore cognitive, motor, or sensory function

Question 19

In terms of Cochlear Implants, what are (2) types of hearing loss?

Answer 19

Conductive Hearing Loss: Damage to outer ear, & pressure are not conductive in going in the inner ear

Sensory Hearing Loss:
Damage to Cochlea - hair cells are diminished, and although stimulated nothing will be triggered and no hearing or pitches result

Central Hearing Loss - Neurons in the brain are damaged by the CNS and sound is scrambled

Question 20

For prosthetic arms, what is Targeted Reinnervation?

Answer 20

Using remaining nerve endings to reroute to new sites in chest muscles to move a prosthetic limb

Question 21

What are BCI’s?

Answer 21

Decoding a brain’s signals to different muscles in the body. This includes EEG technique, Single Unit Recording

Question 22

What is Mental Prosthesis (type of BC)?

Answer 22

Identifying on a specific area activate when individual focuses on a specific thing

Question 23

What is Thought Translation Device (Type of BCI)?

Answer 23

Measuring depolarization of certain cortical neurons

Question 24

What is Wadsworth BCI?

Answer 24

Analyzing frequency of sensorimotor cortex - area of brain related to movement

Question 25

What is a Visual Prosthesis?

Answer 25

Small cameras record visual field, when stimulated, can identify what directions are lacking in a blind individual