Neuroplasticity Flashcards
Long term potentiation + biological explanation for what?
The repeated firing of a neuron which strengthens the connection.
It serves as the biological explanation of why rehearsal leads to memory consolidation.
Neurogenesis
The process by which new neurons are formed in the brain.
Synaptic pruning
This is a natural process where the brain eliminates extra, unnecessary synapses.
Neural Network
Human brain consist of neurons that are arranged together to form a network. These neurons pass electrical impulses from one neuron to another in order to transmit the information received from our sense.
Synaptic pruning
A natural process where the brain eliminates extra/unneeded synapses.
What is the result of dendritic branching?
Increased grey matter from an increase in the number of potential connections between a neuron and other neurons.
Draganski (2004)
Aim:
Determine whether learning how to juggle would have an effect on the brains of participants
Sample:
24 non-jugglers
Research type:
Field experiment
Procedure:
All participants had an MRI scan at the start of the experiment to serve as a baseline for grey matter and brain structure. Participants were put then into one of 2 conditions: One group was given a juggling routine to practice at home. They would have a second MRI scan once they felt that they had mastered the skill. After this 2nd scan, they were told not to juggle anymore, and then a third and final scan would be carried out 3 months later. Another group was a non-juggling group that served as a control group. To measure grey matter in the participants’ brains, they used voxel-based morphometry.
Findings:
Compared to the baseline scans, there were no significant difference in grey matte between the two conditions. However, at the end of the 2nd MRI scans, participants in the juggling group possessed a significantly larger amount of grey matter in the mid-temporal area in both hemispheres, which is associated with visuospatial memory. Three months after participants were told not to juggle, the amount of grey matter in these areas of the brain decreased. For the control group, the amount of grey matter stayed consistent over the duration of the entire study,
