Neuroplasticity and functional recovery - AO1

Question 1

What is neuroplasticity?

Answer 1

Refers to the brain’s ability to change and adapt as a result of experience and new learning
This generally involved the growth of new neural connections

Question 2

What did Gopnik et al (1999) find?

Answer 2

As a child grows, the brain experiences a rapid increase in the number of neurones connected to each synapse approximately 15,000 aged 2-3

Question 3

What is synaptic pruning?

Answer 3

Over time connections no longer used are removed and frequently used connections are strengthened

Question 4

What did Maguire et al (2000) do?

Answer 4

• Studied brains of London taxi drivers using MRI scans
• Significantly greater volume of grey matter in posterior hippocampus then in a matched pair group
• More pronounced the longer they’d been driving
• Hippocampus is associated with long term memory and navigational skills

Question 5

What is functional recovery?

Answer 5

Specific kind of neuroplasticity
Following brain damage through trauma, the brain can redistribute or transfer functions usually performed by the damaged area to a different undamaged area

Question 6

What are the three structural changes in the brain due to functional recovery?

Answer 6

• Axonal sprouting
• Denervation supersensitivity
• Recruitment of homologous areas

Question 7

What is axonal sprouting?

Answer 7

New nerve endings grow to connect with other undamaged cells to form new neuronal pathways

Question 8

What is denervation supersensitivity?

Answer 8

Surrounding post synaptic membranes that process similar neurotransmitters become more aroused (super-sensitive) to compensate for the ones that are lost (denerved)

Question 10

What is recruitment of homologous areas in the brain?

Answer 10

• E.g if Broca’s area was damaged on the left side, the right sided equivalent would carry out its functions
• Cortical reorganisiation
• Turk et al. - JW gained right side language