Lecture 11: Neuroplasticity

Question 1

What is neuroplasticity?

Answer 1

ability of nervous system to respond to intrinsic or extrinsic stimuli by reorganizing its structure, function and connections or learning

Question 2

What is synaptic plasticity?

Answer 2

the ability of synapses to strengthen or weaken over time, in response to increases or decreases in their activity.

Question 3

What is Hebbian learning?

Answer 3

neurons that fire together, wire together

Question 4

What is dendritic spine formation?

Answer 4

where receptors are housed and are designed this way to increase surface area

Question 5

What is pruning?

Answer 5

this is a healthy process and happens as we age

Question 6

Does neurogenesis occur in post natal humans?

Answer 6

only occurs in hippocampus and olfactory bulb, you are born with all your neurons

Question 7

What does happen all the time and can increase as you age?

Answer 7

synpatic formation, creations of new neuron connections not new neurons

main step in neuroplastic changes

Question 8

What is the process of cell death?

Answer 8

CNS can be damaged by a variety of things which initiates a cascade of celluar changes

1. potassium exits, Na, Cl, and Ca enters which allows water to follow Na into cell
2. glutamate and aspartate are released causing enzyme disturbances and free radical release

Question 9

What is CNS shock?

Answer 9

in acute stages there is an altered level of consciousness, hypotonia, motor and sensory changes, cog defecits, decline in function

absence or slowing of neuron firing

Question 10

What are three zones of CNS damage?

Answer 10

1. ischemic zone
2. Penumbra
3. Diaschisis

Question 11

What is the ischemic zone?

Answer 11

the area of injury that is not getting blood, major area affected

Question 12

What is penumbra?

Answer 12

adjacent to ischemic zone, chance of cell death if nothing is done

Question 13

What is diaschisis?

Answer 13

area that is losing function due to loss of connection/input from ischemic zone

Question 14

What is medical management of CNS injury?

Answer 14

restore blood flow, tissue in penumbra supplied by collateral circulation

some evidence supports that PT can increase rate and degree of recovery

Question 15

What is the PT main job dealing with neuroplasticity?

Answer 15

we need to promote the brains ability to reorganize in a functional way

but too early can be harmful

Question 16

When is the time table for an acute vs chronic injury?

Answer 16

1-6 months is acute, first 1-2 months is a steep learning curve, then slower in months 3-6

after 6 considered chronic- slower but still possible for recovery

Question 17

What factors influence neuroplasticity?

Answer 17

age, genetics, nature of lesion, co morbidities, previous level of function , environment, TRAINING

Question 18

What are two methods of measuring neuroplasticity?

Answer 18

diffusion MRI, fMRI

Question 19

What are the goals of neurorehab?

Answer 19

foster recovery via neuroplasticity

regain lost function

Question 20

What does neurorehab require from the patient?

Answer 20

active participation in goal directed active movement

must be motivating, challenging, age appropriate, REPETITION

Question 21

What is use it or lose it principle?

Answer 21

neural circuits not actively engaged in task performance for an extended period of time will break down

Question 22

What is learned non-use?

Answer 22

is a learning phenomenon whereby movement is suppressed initially due to adverse reactions and failure of any activity attempted with the affected limb, which then results in the suppression of behavior.

Question 23

What is an example of use it and improve it?

Answer 23

constraint induced movement therapy

Question 24

What is repetition without repetition?

Answer 24

repetition at first is crucial however if not varied over time then learning will stop and task will become unmotivated

Question 25

Why is timing important in rehab?

Answer 25

too soon may be harmful but too long of delay may allow for compensatory patterns to develop

Question 26

What is salience?

Answer 26

emotions modulate the strength of memory consolidation or increased dopamine which strengthens neuroplasticity

Question 27

What is transference?

Answer 27

ability of plasticity within one set of neural circuits to promote concurrent or subsequent plasticity, can prime adjacent areas for learning

Question 28

What is interference?

Answer 28

training skills to similar and too close together may block the learning of that skill

Question 29

What must design interventions consist of?

Answer 29

goal directed, challenging, repetitive, active, variable and linked to function

Question 30

What is recovery is not possible?

Answer 30

help develop compensatory strategies