Neuroplasticity 2.0 Flashcards
Neuroplasticity
The ability of neurons to change in = ?
three
Neuroplasticity (Modifiability): the ability of neurons to change in function, structure, or chemical profile (quantities and types of neurotransmitters produced).
- Plasticity can occur at synapses, neuronal circuits or neural systems.
- Plasticity lasts over a long period of time (hours, days and months) and is not periodic.
Define neuroplasticity.
Neuroplasticity is the ability of neurons to change in function, structure, or chemical profile.
Neuroplasticity can occur at
- = ?
- = ?
- = ?
Neuroplasticity can occur at synapses, neuronal circuits, or neural systems.
How long can plasticity last?
Hours, days, and months, and is not periodic.
Neuroplasticity is the basis of all functions involving changes.
- Examples include = ?
Neuroplasticity is the basis of all functions involving changes.
- Acquisition of new motor skills (e.g., children learning how to ride a bike)
- Regaining skills lost due to injury to the nervous system (e.g., patients receiving rehabilitation)
- Acquisition of cognitive skills such as language, music, learning and memory.
How can neuroplasticity affect patients after a nervous system injury?
It helps in regaining skills lost due to injury, such as through rehabilitation.
What negative impacts can neuroplasticity have?
- New onset of epilepsy due to cerebral trauma
- Chronic pain and allodynia following limb amputations are negative impacts of neuroplasticity.
Neuroplasticity encompasses three mechanisms, what are they = ?
Neuroplasticity encompasses the following mechanisms:
1) Habituation: Habituation refers to “a decrease in response to a repeated, benign stimulus” (due to a reduced amount of neurotransmitter released from the presynaptic terminal of a sensory neuron)
- Short-term and can be reversible.
- One of the simplest forms of neuroplasticity.
- 5-10 times, 5x/day
2) Experience-dependent plasticity: Complex process involving persistent long lasting changes in the strength of synapse between neurons and neuronal network . Two types of plasticity in excitatory glutamatergic synapses during learning and memory
- Long term potentiation (LTP)
- Long term depression (LTD)
3) Cellular recovery after injury: Injuries that damage axons cause. Degeneration but may not result in cell death. Some neurons have ability to regenerate the axon. Injuries that damage cell body = Cell death
- If the neuron dies, the CNS will work on altering different synapses, change neurotransmitter release and reorganize circuitry.
What is habituation in the context of neuroplasticity?
Habituation is a decrease in response to a repeated benign stimulus, a form of neuroplasticity.
How is habituation used in therapies?
Habituation techniques and exercises are used to decrease the neural response to a stimulus.
Describe the application of habituation in vestibular disorders.
Movements that induce vertigo in vestibular disorders are repeatedly applied to decrease response to dizziness.
What is experience-dependent plasticity?
Experience-dependent plasticity involves learning and memory, where persistent changes in synapse strength occur.
What are LTP and LTD?
Long Term Potentiation (LTP) and Long Term Depression (LTD) are types of synaptic plasticity in learning and memory.
Describe the cellular mechanism of LTP.
LTP involves the conversion of silent synapses to active ones by inserting AMPA receptors into the synaptic membrane.
What happens in LTD at the cellular level?
In LTD, AMPA receptors are removed from the synaptic membrane, converting an active synapse to a silent one.
How does environment affect neuroplasticity?
- Animals raised in complex environments have more dendritic branching and synapse production compared to those in non-stimulating environments.
What are the implications of body-weight supported treadmill training?
It helps patients regain function and is an example of experience-dependent plasticity in clinical settings.
What are stepping pattern generators?
- Central / stepping pattern generators (CPG) located within the spinal cord assist with flexion/extension locomotor gait pattern
- They are neural inputs in the spinal cord that produce rhythmic outputs contributing to stepping and locomotor gait patterns.
Explain the role of the cortex in walking post-injury.
The cortex assists in postural control and adapts movements to the environment, critical for walking post-injury.
What are metabolic effects of brain injury?
Following a brain injury like stroke or TBI, neurons can die from lack of oxygen or excitotoxicity caused by excessive glutamate.
Describe the concept of synaptic changes following injury.
It includes recovery of synaptic effectiveness, denervation hypersensitivity, and other changes in synaptic behavior post-injury.
What is the role of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in neuroplasticity?
TMS can enhance or inhibit motor learning and memory formation, depending on its frequency and protocol.
What is task-specific training in stroke rehabilitation?
Task-specific training is the systematic, repetitive practice of functional tasks within the available voluntary motion of stroke survivors.
How does constraint-induced movement therapy work?
It involves engaging the affected upper limbs in intense, task-oriented practice, while the less affected limb is restrained.
What principle of neuroplasticity does ‘use it or lose it’ represent?
‘Use it or lose it’ means failing to drive specific brain functions can lead to functional degradation.
How does ‘use it and improve it’ apply to neuroplasticity?
Training a specific brain function can improve its performance, illustrating the ‘use it and improve it’ principle.
What does the principle ‘specificity’ suggest in neuroplasticity?
‘Specificity’ suggests that the nature of the training dictates the nature of the plasticity.
Why is repetition important in neuroplasticity?
Repetition is crucial because it is required for the induction of plasticity.
What does the intensity principle in neuroplasticity entail?
Sufficient training intensity is necessary for inducing plasticity.
Explain the principle that ‘time matters’ in neuroplasticity.
Different forms of plasticity occur at different times during the training process.
What does the principle ‘salience matters’ mean?
“Salience matters” emphasizes that training must be functionally relevant to the learner.
How does age affect neuroplasticity?
Induction of plasticity occurs more easily in younger brains, demonstrating the principle that ‘age matters’.
What is the effect of transference in neuroplasticity?
Plasticity in response to one training can enhance the acquisition of similar behaviors.
Describe how interference can impact neuroplasticity.
Plasticity in response to one experience can interfere with the acquisition of other behaviors.
What are long-term changes in neuroplasticity?
- Synthesis of new proteins and growth of new synapses, which maintain memory of specific repetitive stimuli.
How can axonal injury in peripheral neurons recover?
Damaged axons can regenerate, and new inputs can maintain function at targets deprived of input from injured axons.
What adjustments do cortical areas make?
Cortical areas adjust to changes in sensory input and develop new functions based on required motor outputs.
What can cause cells to die in response to ischemia?
Cells can die directly from lack of oxygen or indirectly from events resulting from increased glutamate stimulation.
What are the functions of glial scars?
Glial scars block axonal regeneration and release growth-inhibiting factors after CNS injuries.
Explain the concept of synaptic effectiveness recovery.
It occurs when local edema reduces, which previously interfered with neurotransmitter synthesis and action potential conduction.
What is denervation hypersensitivity?
It occurs when postsynaptic neurons develop new receptors at remaining terminals after presynaptic neurons are destroyed.
Describe synaptic hypereffectiveness.
It happens when some presynaptic terminals are lost, causing neurotransmitter to accumulate and be excessively released at remaining terminals.
