Neuroplasticity Flashcards
Function
Complex activity to perform a behaviour task e.g brush your teeth
What does the body do if injury occurs
It compensates and makes us feel more comfortable e.g limping
How much is the brain plastic
We learn to adapt and change to different stimulus and if one method doesn’t work the brain can remodel and find another method
How does neuro plasticity occur
Human CNS very adaptive and can respond to patterns of use as the brain can recognise neural pathways and electrical conductivity and forms neuroplasticity
What is neuroplasticity
A reorganisation in learning memory and recovering from injury
We have to practice to reinforce the adaptations in order to achieve neural pathways and synaptic connections = eg sport
Use it or lose it
What are the types of recovery after brain damage
Spontaneous recovery- first
Functional recovery
Cerebal cortex can undergo structural and functional adaptations
Brain changes are activity driven
Response to CNS damage
Cellular/behavioural
Primary cell death first 5 mins(necrotic and apoptotic cell death cascades)
Inflammation (destructive and neuroprotective rules)- need to manage to reduce severity
Axonal degeneration
Secondary cell death 2-7 days post injury = can lead to more damage than primary damage.
(transneuronal degeneration)- over stimulation MDA receptors extoroxicty occurs which leads to more damage
Formation of glial scar
Functional disturbance caused by
> Actual cell death
Diaschisis- sudden loss of function due to shock occuring
Damage to axon
Not only affects the injured neuron but also it’s synaptic neurons and neighbouring cells
Wallerian degeneration= going forwards from that area of damage
Retrograde degeneration= goingb backwards from area of degeneration
Myelin degenerate lose synaptic connection
Cell body= chromatosis pre synaptic terminals withdraw and are wrapped in glial process= scarring
What happens when atrophy occurs
Atrophy occurs transneural degeneration this propagates through the the circuit in both wallerain and retrograde methods= chain reaction
Results in CNS damage
Formation of glial scar
Fibrous astrocytes reactive glyosis and connective tissues
Scar = barrier prevent connections and new synapses occurring preventing neuro regeneration
Functional disturbance resulting in cell death
Functional recovery
How we can modify inflammation
Prevent scarring
Providing good stimulation brain derivative neurotrophic factor= produces good new neural tissue
Functional recovery
Mechanisms
Resolution of a cute tissue damage
Behavioural compensation
Experience dependent near a place to stay
Alteration in membrane excitability
Gross leading to no signup tick connections
Brain derived neurotrophic factor
GlioGenesis
Neurogenesis
Synaptogenesis
Angiogenesis
On masking off latent synaptic connections
Removal of inhibition
Neuro compensation
Avoiding damage within the system
If the compensation the patient is employing leads to them achieving their goal then they won’t look for another method and this could lead to them preventing recovery in areas of the brain
Can be helpful and unhelpful due to learned unuse
Brain derivative neurotrophic factor
Helps stimulate growth of new connections
GlioGenesis
Formation astrocytes oligodendrocytes microglail
Need these to form the structure for new process to occur
Neurogenesis
New neurons being formed
Synaptogenesis
New synaptic connections being formed between neurones
Angiogenesis
Formation of your blood supply
Unmasking latent synaptic connections
These new processes need to occur in order for this to take place and removoval of inhibition need to happen so new areas of the brain can be used
Is it possible to implement neuro plasticity in order to optimise functional recovery
Physical activity within a rich sensory environment can facilitate brain reorganisation
Input/output
Use dependent functional reorganisation
Human evidence for therapy and induced changes in brain activity is growing and therefore plasticity is dependent on activity
What are other factors that influence rate recovery
Gender Motivation Health conditions Fitness levels Diet
What techniques encourage neuroplasticity
Combination
Optimum timing of treatment intervention
Early is best
Within 24 hrs
Especially in stroke = early in acute stage
Treatment intensity and frequency
More is better
Often patients under active= in a hospital bed
Why do some patients do better than others and can we reliably predict the outcome
Variable factors and no
The aim of neuro rehabilitation
Decrease impact of primary impairment + prevent secondary complications = promote physical independence and autonomy and reduce disability
Summary
The human CNS is plastic in form and function
Following a lesion in the development of compensatory movement strategies is normal this can be both useful but also detrimental to recovery
Functional reorganisation appears to be activity dependent
Rehab therapist can facilitate functional recovery by prescribing appropriately graded tasks and exercise
New treatment approaches need to be evidence-based
