Neuroplasiticity and functional recovery - AO3

Question 1

What are two strengths of functional recovery?

Answer 1

• P: Strength = Research evidence for recovery
• E: Danelli et al (2013) assessed 14 year old EB had parts of left hemisphere removed at age 2 (Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas)
• E: Lost nearly all language capabilities but regained near normal abilities after two years though had dyslexia and needed frontal lobe compensation
• L: So, the brain has functional recovery even after signicant damage - RH adopts LH roles

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• P: Strength = Research has real world application
• E: Neurorehabilitation is based around the concept of functional recovery
• E: Constraint-induced movement therapy is used with stroke patients - repeat practice of affected body parts
• L: So, research iinto functional recovery is useful for medical interventions

Question 2

What is a PECS paragraph for functional recovery?

Answer 2

• P: Research shows variables such as age affects plasticity
• E: Brain’s ability to recover from trauma diminshes with age - Elbert et al. (2001)
• C: However, evidence training influences brain structure in older people (Bezzola et al. study of 40-60 year old golfers)
• S: So neuroplasticity can continue throughout the lifespan

Question 3

What is a limitation of functional recovery?

Answer 3

• P: Plasticity varies with education (cognitive reserve)
• E: Schnieder et al. (2014): the more time spent in education, the greater the chance of a disability-free recovery (DFR) after trauma
• E: 40% of people with DFR had more than 16 years in education vs 10% if those with less than 12 years
• L: So, functional recovery may be subject to individual differences (but also suggests we can build cognitive reserve