Plasticity

Question 1

what is plasticity?

Answer 1

the brain has the ability to alter its structure and function in response to changes in the environment

Question 2

What is functional recovery?

Answer 2

Brain damage can result in loss of function. Healthy areas of the brain take over the damaged areas

Question 3

What is Axonal sprouting?

Answer 3

The growth of nerve endings which connect to other undamaged nerve cells to form new neural pathways

Question 4

What did maguire eat al (2000) do?

Answer 4

• studied brains of London taxi drivers
• found significantly more volume of grey matter in posterior hippocampus
• this part of the brain is responsible for navigational skills
• the job strengthens the area

Question 5

how can plasticity allow functional recovery after brain damage

Answer 5

brain damage can cause loss of function
the brain has potential to recover loss of function
this is thought to be due to plasticity the brain re-wires itself

Question 6

what is constraint-induced movement therapy?

Answer 6

after a stroke some patients are prevented from using their non-affected side this forces them to relearn how to use their affected arm

Question 7

what are the advantages of CIMT?

Answer 7

numerous studies have shown CIMT has shown improved function

Question 8

what are the disadvantages of CIMT?

Answer 8

can be frustrating for patient
needs to be very intensive to be effective
it is most effective in treating patients who have suffered mild to moderate strokes

Question 9

What did dragon ski et al do?

Answer 9

Imaged the brains of medical students 3 months before exam then after exam
Found changes occurred in posterior hippocampus and parietal cortex

Question 10

Who did research into plasticity?

Answer 10

Maguire et al 2000 - London taxi drivers

Draganski et al 2006 brains of medical students

Question 11

Negative plasticity

Answer 11

Can sometimes have maladaptive behavioural consequences

Question 12

Animal study

Answer 12

Hubel and Wiesel
Involved sewing one eye of a kitten shut and analysing the brains cortical responses. It was found that the area of the visual cort x associated with shut eye was not Idle but continues to process info from open eye

Question 13

Age and plasticity

Answer 13

Functional plasticity tends to reduce with age

Question 14

Case of gabby giffors

Answer 14

Politician shot in head
Placed in coma and after 3 months could walk again
Placed in the top 5% who recover from brain injury