Neuroplasticity

Question 1

What is the theory of Neuroplasticity?

Answer 1

This term describes the brain’s ablitiy to change and adapt (functionally and physcially) as a result of experience or learning.
The brain can change through a person’s life. Our actions can alter our biological.

Question 2

Example of a study that supports neuroplasticity

Answer 2

Kuhn et al (2014)

Question 3

Outline the study of Kuhn et al (2014)

Answer 3

Compared a control group with a group that was trained for 2 months for at least 30 minutes per day on the game Super Mario. They found increase in grey matter in brain ears such as cortext, hippocampus and cerbellum compared to the control group. Game training resulted in new synaptic connections in the brain areas in spatial recognition, working memory and motor performance skills important in playing the game. This supports the theory of neuroplasticity.

Question 4

What structural changes occur when new neuronal pathways are created?

Answer 4

• Axonal sprouting
• Neuroal unmasking
• Use of homogenous (homologous) areas

Question 5

What is Axonal sprouting?

Answer 5

The growth of new nerve endings which connect with tho the run damaged nerve cells.

Question 6

What is Neuroal unmasking?

Answer 6

The unmasking of dormant synpases can open connections to regions of the brain that are not normally activated.

Question 7

What is the use of homogenous (homologous) areas?

Answer 7

This is where similar areas of the brain in the opposite hemisphere develop the responsiblity for certain functions.

Question 8

What is Functional Recovery?

Answer 8

Functional recovery is the transfer of functions from a damaged area of the brain after trauma, to other undamaged areas.

Question 9

What is spontaneous recovery?

Answer 9

After the brain or part of the brain is damaged, known as brain trauma, the brain can regenerate as the unaffected areas of the brain can adapt and compensate for those damaged areas.

Question 10

What is Neurorehabliltaion?

Answer 10

Neurorehablitaion is praticing a lost skill in order to rewire the brain to relearn it. Neurons near the area of damage are rewired and this will reactivate the dominate undamaged neurons and the means that the neuroal pathway can be rerouted by axonal sprouting.

Question 11

Evidence for functional recovery

Answer 11

• Jody Miller had the right hemisphere of her brain removed by neurosurgeon Benjamin Carson due to continous epiletic sezisures. She managed to gain all her functions back and live normally. Due to plasticity, the left hemisphere rewired meaning that she could still move both sides of her body.
• EB had virtually his entire left hemisphere moved at 2 ½ years old. His lanauge gradually recovered. When tested was excellent with slight differences to control. The right hemisohere had compensanted for the removal of the left but never able to completely recover the full lanauage ability.

Question 12

Evalutation of Neuroplasticity

Answer 12

• Evidence contradicts the old ideas that skills cannot be regained after weeks of brain injury, which helps prodive hope and a greater quality of life for people who have experienced brain damage.
• Clear evidence for free will in the free will vs determinism debate (our actions can alter our biology).