outline and evaluate evidence for plasticity and functional recovery after trauma Flashcards
plasticity outline
Brain plasticity refers to the brain’s ability to change due to experience and new learning.
Modern research has demonstrated that the brain can change as new neural pathways are created and existing ones can be altered to adapt to new experiences and information e.g., each time a new dance step is learned, new neural pathways are made which instructs the body how to perform the step.
Each time the dance is revisited, the pathway becomes stronger.
This is done through myelination – each time the neural pathway is activated, more myelin sheath wraps around the axon, increasing speed of impulse.
However, each time we forget a piece of information, the pathways that were once connected to the memory become progressively weakened, until they become deleted.
functional recovery outline
Functional recovery refers to the brain’s ability to recover after trauma (physical damage which prevents normal brain functioning) or illness.
During the recovery process, the brain rewires and reorganises itself, forming new synaptic connections which avoid the damaged areas, by recruiting similar undamaged areas in the opposite side of the brain to carry out the functions lost.
E.g., if Broca’s area was damaged in the left hemisphere, then the right-sided equivalent would carry out its function (speech production).
The brain reorganises itself through axonal sprouting, where undamaged axons grow new nerve endings and reconnect with other undamaged neurons to form new neural pathways and replace links lost due to trauma.
strength 1
A strength of research into plasticity and functional recovery is that it has practical applications, which is when the principles of a theory have real life benefits.
For example, understanding of plasticity has led to the development of neurorehabilitation, which aids recovery from trauma through intense physical therapy and electrical stimulation of the brain, to counteract problems in functioning that may have been experienced following trauma.
This suggests research into plasticity has been proven useful to society.
strength 2
A strength of the concept of plasticity is that it has strong supporting research from
Maguire who used MRI scans to show London taxi drivers had a significantly larger posterior hippocampus, responsible for spatial & navigational skills, which was positively correlated with the amount of time they spent as a taxi driver.
This suggests that our brain can re-wire itself based on our experiences, providing evidence for plasticity.
strength 3
A strength of the concept of functional recovery is that it has supporting research from Turk et al
who identified patient J.W. who even after damage to his left hemisphere and language centres recovered by developing the ability to speak from his right hemisphere.
This provides evidence for functional recovery as it suggests after injury, the brain can reorganise itself and recruit similar areas in the opposite hemisphere to take over lost function.
limit
Finally, research has demonstrated individual differences in plasticity and functional recovery, which is when there is variability between different groups of participants, which the concept of plasticity doesn’t account for.
E.g., Elbert et al found the brain has a greater tendency for reorganisation in childhood, compared to adulthood, as demonstrated by the extended practice that adults require to produce changes.
This challenges the concept that plasticity can occur in all age groups, questioning how useful certain interventions might be after potential brain trauma in older age groups.
