Neuroplasticity

Question 1

Mechanisms of Neuroplasticity

Answer 1

• Neurogenesis
• Alteration of existing pathways
• Formation of new neuronal pathways

Question 2

Neurogenesis

Answer 2

• Creation of new neurons
• Decreases in presence of stress or depression
• increases with enriched environment and physical activity

Question 3

Alteration of existing pathways

Answer 3

1. Unmasking
   * Neurons adapt and alter behaviour and function.
   * Neural networks can be inactive due to tonic inhibition, which can be released and re-opened as functional pathways
2. Alteration of synapse strength
   * Size of synaptic response can change quickly due to activity experienced
   * synaptic strength can be increased (long-term potentiation) or decreased (long-term depression)
3. Remodelling
   * Dendritic spines readily remodel their connections with axons
   * Axonal sprouting is slower but more permanent

Question 4

Neuroplastic Mechanisms of Repair

Answer 4

1. Changes to cortical maps: cortical representation is constantly changing in response to acitivity, behavrious, and skill acquisition.
2. Pre-motor cotex subs for motor cortex: PMC can reorg during learning and recovery of function after brain damage to motor cortex
3. Contralateral hemisphere can take over motor control

Question 5

Enhancing Post-Injury Plasticity

Answer 5

• Enriched environment
• brain activation
• growth factor, axonal sprouting, neurogenesis

Question 6

10 evidence based rehab principles

Answer 6

1. Use it or lose it
2. use it and improve it
3. be specific in how to practice
4. reps matter
5. intensity matters
6. time (different forms of plasticity occurs at different times)
7. Age
8. Salience (importance matters, be person-oriented)
9. Transference (training one thing can enhance acquisition of similar behaviours)
10. Interference (plasticity from one exp can interfere with acquisition of other behaviours)