Plasticity and Development

Question 1

Neurons must:

Answer 1

1. Proliferate (multiply)
2. Migrate to where they will remain
3. Differentiate into a specific type of neuron
4. Myelinate (axon covered in myelin)
5. Form synapses

Question 2

Brain plasticity

Answer 2

Parts of brain can respond to experience

Question 3

Synapse plasticity

Answer 3

• Syanpses are more active when strengthened
• Synapses that are not strengthened die (apoptosis)

Question 4

Can plasticity processes determine the entire ‘wiring diagram’ of the brain?

Answer 4

• Empiricism - yes (brain begins as a blank slate, experiences shape connections)
• Nativism - no (some things hardwired from birth)

Question 5

Neurogenesis

Answer 5

• Plasticity decreases with age
• New neurons formed in some areas

Question 6

Aging affects on pasticity

Answer 6

• Neurons and synapses lost with age
• Some brain regions begin to shrink
• Plasticity within neurons decreases

Question 7

Brain damage

Answer 7

• Caused by drugs, disease, cell death, physical trauma

Question 8

Rewiring

Answer 8

• Areas with no incoming connections can elicit new synapses
• Nearby axons grow branches to connect

Question 9

Phantom limbs

Answer 9

• After amputation axons of damaged neurons die off
• Axons from nearby regions attach to vacant synaptic sites

Question 10

Modules

Answer 10

• Only process one type of sensory information
• Not accessible to other systems, get input give output
• Always active
• Perform processing very fast
• Give ‘simple’ outputs
• In one place in the brain