Plasticity

Question 1

What is brain plasticity?

Answer 1

Brain plasticity refers to the brains ability to adapt and change due to experience

Question 2

AO1 for brain plasticity

Answer 2

• Brain plasticity
• synaptic pruning
• functional recovery
• stem cells
• Neural unmasking

Question 3

what is synaptic pruning?

Answer 3

• Synaptic pruning is the process where dormant synapses are deleted and frequently used neurons are strengthened
• this shapes our brain structures and infants have half as many more synaptic connections as adults due to synaptic pruning.

Question 4

What is functional recovery?

Answer 4

-It is the brains ability to redistribute or transfer functions in the brain after trauma.

Question 5

What is a stem cell?

Answer 5

A stem cell is an unspecialised cell that can become any cell in the body
-they can replace any weak or dying cells in the brain healing the ares that have been damaged aiding functional recovery.

Question 6

What is neural unmasking?

Answer 6

Neural unmasking is the process where dormant synapses will open their connections to compensate for the areas of damage.

Question 7

AO3 for Plasticity?

Answer 7

• Equipotentialiity theory.
• Language, damage to the left hemisphere
• taxi drivers
• neurorehabilitation

Question 8

Outline AO3 paragraphs for taxi drivers

Answer 8

P: Maguire provides research evidence supporting the idea of brain plasticity

E: he found that taxi drivers posterior hippocampal volume of London taxi drives brains was positively correlated with their time as a taxi driver and that there were big differences with their brains compared to non taxi drivers.

L: This shows us the brain can change in response to our environment through synaptic pruning as taxi driver brains frequently use the posterior hippocampal region for spatial navigation.

Question 9

Outline the equipotentiality theory

Answer 9

P: The equipotentiality theory provides support for brain plasticity.

E: It states that simple motor and sensory functions in the brain have specific locations in the brain however higher order functions don’t

E: research to support the theory has also found that when the brain has experienced trauma intact areas of the cortex can take over responsibility for those functions.

L: This shows us the brain can change as a result of neural unmasking which supports the idea that the brain can adapt and change as a result of experience.