neuro plasticity

Question 1

Brain Plasticity

Answer 1

The brain’s ability to adapt and restructure itself in response to changes in the body or external environment.

Question 2

London Taxi Driver case study

Answer 2

16 right handed male taxi drivers were tested to see whether the brains of taxi drivers would be any different as a result of their outstanding knowledge of the city and the amount of hours they spend behind the wheel. In order to take part in this study the taxi drivers had to have at least 1.5 years of experience of being a taxi driver. There were 16 right handed london taxi drivers who had their brain scanned by an mri and there were another 16 right handed males but they were not taxi drivers. They found that the hippocampus of the taxi drivers were larger than the ones who weren’t drivers. So the researchers concluded that the hippocampus may change in response to environmental factors.

Question 3

Dendrite branching

Answer 3

dendrites of the neurons grow in numbers and connect with other
Neurons.

Question 4

neural pruning

Answer 4

when neurons are eliminated to form new neural connections.

Question 5

Long term potentiation

Answer 5

a process where synaptic connections become stronger with frequent activation. The brain changes in response to experience and habits.