Plasticity Flashcards
1
Q
Define plasticity
A
- Plasticity refers to the brains ability to change and adapt both its structure and function based on experience and new learning.
2
Q
What is plasticity also referred as?
A
- Neuroplasticity.
- Cortical remapping.
3
Q
Define functional recovery
A
- A form of plasticity where the brain recovers abilities previously lost due to brain damage through trauma and injury.
4
Q
Early brain development and plasticity (AO1)- pt.1
A
- Brain plasticity happens continuously throughout an individuals lifetime.
- It occurs during normal brain development when the immature brain first begins to process info.
- The brain grows rapidly during the first few years of life.
5
Q
Early brain development and plasticity (AO1)- pt.2
A
- During early childhood the brain is extremely plastic, making it easier to learn new skills and recover from injuries.
- There are ‘critical periods’ during which the brain is particularly sensitive to certain experiences- learning and adaptation occur more quickly during this time.
(e.g. language acquisition, sensory development).
5
Q
Hebb’s theory of neuronal growth
A
- States the new neural connections are created in our brains when we learn.
- Collections or groups of neurons that fire together are called cell assemblies.
- Repeated activation of a cell assembly strengthens connections between the cells forming a neural pathway.
- “Neurons that fire together, wire together”.
6
Q
Axon terminals
A
- If we repeatedly activate/ use a connection there is repeated excitation- this stimulates the connection and makes the axon terminal grow.
- This growth improves the efficiency of transmission.
7
Q
What is synaptic pruning?
A
- Synaptic pruning is a natural process that occurs in the brain between early childhood and adulthood. During this process, the brain eliminates rarely used connections
- This is an important process as it makes room for new connections to be made later.
- It is plasticity that enables the process of developing and pruning connections, allowing the brain to adapt itself to its environment.
8
Q
Research into plasticity (Maguire)
A
- London cabbies must take a complex test called ‘The Knowledge’, which assesses their recall of the city streets and possible routes.
- It appears that this spatial learning alters the structure of the taxi drivers brains.
9
Q
Maguire- findings….
A
- Maguire founded significantly more grey matter in the posterior hippocampus than in a matched control group.
- This part of the brain is associated with the development of spatial and navigational skills in humans and other animals.
- Found a positive correlation between the time spent as a taxi driver and the volume of grey matter in the posterior hippocampus.
- More time spent= more volume.
10
Q
What is the posterior hippocampus used for?
A
- Spatial learning.
11
Q
What is grey matter?
A
- Grey matter is where the neuron cell bodies, dendrites and synapses are found.
12
Q
Research into plasticity (Kuhn)
A
- A correlational study.
- 152 teenagers (14 year olds).
- Found that playing videos for 30 + minutes per day resulted in increased brain matter in the cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum. Thus, the complex cognitive demands of mastering video games caused the formation of new synaptic connections in brain sites that control spatial navigation, planning, decision making etc.
13
Q
Kuhn (findings simplified)
A
- Increase in grey matter in the experimental group, but not the control group= looking at the difference between the control group and the experimental group.
- Findings showed a positive association between cortical thickness and video gaming duration.
14
Q
Evaluation of plasticity (1)
A
- These studies show that brain plasticity is a lifelong ability. The knowledge that our brain is constantly adapting to our environment can be used to promote healthy aging.
