Plastcity and functional recovery of the brain after trauma

Question 1

plasticity definition

Answer 1

tendency to change + adapt as a result of experience and new learning. Involves growth of new connections

Question 2

Talk me through brain plasticity, mention synaptic pruning,

Answer 2

Brain plasticity
‘plastic’ -> ability to change throughout life
in infancy, brain experiences rapid growth in synaptic connections.
twice as many neurones in adult brain. when we age, rarely used connections are deleted, frequently used strengthened.
SYNAPTIC PRUNING
people thought adult brain X capable of change, now understand synaptic pruning enables lifelong plasticity where neural connections are formed in response to new demands on the brain.