neural plasticity

Question 1

neural plasticity

Answer 1

• ability of the brain to change in response to experience
• people gain new experiences, eloquently used nerve pathways develop stronger connections
• neurones that are rarely/never used die
• brain is able to constantly adapt
• affected by stimulating events, new skills, video games, meditation
• age also effects, natural decline in cognitive function can be attributed changes in the brain, changes can be reversed and new connections made

Question 2

Maguire et al - taxi study

Answer 2

• 16 licensed taxi drivers, minimum 18 months experience compared with 16 non-taxi drivers
• MRI scans taken
• taxi drivers significantly larger volume in prosterior hippocampi
• hippocampal volume positively correlated with taxi driving experience

Question 3

Davidson et al - tibetan meditation

Answer 3

• 8 practitioners compared with 10 student volunteers
• monks, greater activation of gamma waves than volunteers
• meditation can produce permanent changes

Question 4

Kuhn et al - video games

Answer 4

• control group compared to video game training group, trained for two months for at least 30 mins a day on Super Mario
• significant increase in grey matter found in various brain areas (cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum) in video game group
• video game training resulted in new synaptic connections in brain areas involved in spatial navigation, strategic planning, working memory and motor performance

Question 4

Boyke et al - juggling

Answer 4

• 60 year old pps taught new skill of juggling
• increased grey matter in visual cortex
• changes reversed when pps stopped practicing juggling