plasticity Flashcards
what is brain plasticity?
brain’s tendency to change and adapt as a result of experience and new learning, involves growth of new connections
infancy- rapid growth in no. of synaptic connections
2-3 years 15,000 per neuron
twice as many as adult brain
what is synaptic pruning?
as we age rarely-used connections deleted and frequently-used strengthened
enables lifelong plasticity where neural connections formed in response to new demands on brain
outline Maguire’s research into plasticity (2000)
London taxi drivers brains
significantly more vol of grey matter in posterior hippocampus than control group
associated w development of spatial and navigational skills
their training alters structure of brains
positive correlation between length of time in job and structural differences
outline Draganski’s research into blain plasticity (2006)
medical students’ brains 3 months before and after final exams
learning-induced changes occurred in posterior hippocampus and parietal cortex
limitation- negative behavioural consequences
Medina- brain adapts to prolonged drug use- poorer cog functioning in later life and increased dementia risk
60-80% amputees develop phantom limb syndrome- continued experience of painful sensations in missing limb as if still there
limb loss- cortical reorganisation in somatosensory cortex
limitation- brain’s ability to adapt to damage not always beneficial, can be harmful
strength- life-long ability
generally reduces with age
but Bezzola- 40 hrs golf training changes neural representations of movement in 40-60 yo
fMRI- more motor cortex activity in novice golfers than control
suggests more efficient neural representations after training
strength- plasticity can continue to benefit ppl throughout lives, advantage