Plasticity

Question 1

Neural plasticity is…

Answer 1

The brains ability to alter it’s synaptic connections as a result of experience i.e learning.

Question 2

Synaptic pruning

Answer 2

The deletion of rarely used connections and frequently used connections are strengthened

Question 3

maguire et al’s study (2000)

Answer 3

Studied brains of London cab drivers,
More grey matter in posterior hippocampus
Area associated with development of spacial and navigational skills in humans and other animals.
Positive correlation between size of posterior hippocampi and time as a taxi driver.

Question 4

Limitation of Maguire’s study

Answer 4

Correlation isn’t causatiob

Question 5

Functional recovery is

Answer 5

Plasticity specifically related to recovery from brain injury
undamaged areas compensate by taking over the functions of the damaged areas.

Question 6

Spontaneous recovery is

Answer 6

Rapid recovery after trauma. Slows after time so the individual may need rehabilitative therapy.

Question 7

Draganski’s study (2006)

Answer 7

Scanned brains of medicak students 3 months before and after their exams. Changes in posterior hippocampus and parietal cortex.

Question 8

Advantage of Draganski’s study

Answer 8

Each participant acted as their own control so cleared causation.

Question 9

Structural changes in the brain after trauma

Answer 9

The brains ability to rewire itself by forming new synaptic connections close to the area of damage.

Question 10

3 types of structural changes after trauma

Answer 10

1. axonal sprouting
2. reformation of blood vessels
3. recruitment of homologous areas.

Question 11

Axonal sprouting

Answer 11

growth of new nerve endings which connect with undamaged nerve cells to form new neural pathways.

Question 12

Recruitment of homologous series

Answer 12

Where the homologous area of the brain which is on the opposite side is used to perform the affected function e.g Jodie Millar.

Question 13

Practical applications of plasticity

Answer 13

Contributed to neurorehabilitation
Contribution of physical therapy after spontaneous recovery has slowed down.

Question 14

Age and plasticity

Answer 14

Functional plasticity reduces with age however Bezzola found 40h of gold training changes neural representation of movement in participants aged 40-60. Reduced motor cortex found

Question 15

Negative plasticity- strength

Answer 15

Brains ability to rewire shown by phantom limb syndrome. due to coritical reorganisation in the somatosensory cortex

Question 16

Animal studies supporting plasticity

Answer 16

Hubel and Weisel sewed one eye of a kitten shit and analysed the visual cortex’s response. Still respinsed to information from the open eye suggesting cortical reorganisation must have occured.