plasticity and function recovery

Question 1

plascitity refers to the brains ability to physically and functionality to

Answer 1

adapt and change in response to trauma , new experiences and learning.

Question 2

the idea of plasciticty opposes the previous theory that there if a ‘ critical window ‘ for

Answer 2

synaptic and neuronal connection formation , which occurred during the first 3 years of life , after which no new neuronal connections would be formed
GOPNICK ET AL

Question 3

we control the strength and the number of neuronal connections in our brains through the process of synaptic pruning the process by which

Answer 3

extra neurons and synaptic connections are eliminated in order to increase the efficiency of neuronal transmissions

Question 4

Maguire et al 2006 demonstrated neuroplasticity and found

Answer 4

larger grey matter volume in the mid posterior hippocampi of their brains , alongside a positive correlation between longer driving and higher grey matter volume

Question 5

Maguire et al 2006 demonstrated neuroplasticity and concluded that

Answer 5

a complex spatial representation which facilities expert navigation and is associated with greater posterior hippocampal grey matter volume might come at a cost to new spatial memories and grey matter volume in the anterior hippocampal

Question 6

Maguire et al 2006 demonstrated neuroplasticity and theorised that

Answer 6

it may be due to the hippocampus is associated with spatial awareness ; an ability which taxi drivers must have when they complete the knowledge test

Question 7

functional recovery is the ability of the brain to transfer the functions of ares damaged through trauma to other

Answer 7

healthy parts of the brain thus allowing for normal functioning to carry on

Question 8

functional recovery is enabled through the law of equipotentiality where

Answer 8

secondary neural circuits surrounding the damaged are become activated

Question 9

functional recovery is also enabled through other factors such as

Answer 9

axonal sprouting
reformation of blood vessels
and recruiting homologous areas on the opposite side of the brain

Question 10

reformation of blood vessels that enables functional recovery is apart of the haemodynamic response which is

Answer 10

when activated areas of the brain experience a higher blood deoxygenation level

Question 11

one example of functional recovery would be Ramachandrans research into phantom limb syndrome which he explained as being caused by

Answer 11

the sensory input from the face skin invading and activating deaffrented hand zone in the cortex and thalamus … there appears to be tremendous latent plasticity even the adult brain

Question 12

Thus Ramachandrans research into the phantom limb demonstrates negative plasticity because

Answer 12

the neuroplasticity results in painful or negative consequences

Question 13

a second example of neuroplasticity would be the case of Jodi miller , whose entire right hemisphere was removed in an attempt to control her epileptic seizures however

Answer 13

through the mechanisms of neuroplastcicity she was still able to control the right side of her body through the use of cereal spinal fluid.

Question 14

thus the case of Jodi miller demonstrates positive plasticity because

Answer 14

the neuroplasticity results in desirable or positive consequences

Question 15

• evidence supporting the positive and negative effects of neuroplasticity
  Ramachandran et al = NEGATIVE plasticity
  Jodi miller = POSITIVE plasticity

Answer 15

ramachandran demonstrated negative plasticity through providing an explanation of phantom limb syndrome in terms of cortical reorganisation in the cortex and thalamus
Jodi miller demonstrates positive plasticity , who has shown the power of recruiting homologous areas on the opposite side of the brain , axonal sprouting and the reformation of blood vessels .
therefore their is evidence supporting plasticity

Question 16

• neuroplasticity occurs in animals too
  Hubel and Weisel sutured the right eyes of kittens who are blind from birth for 6 months , opening the eyes at several points and monitoring the brain activity in the visual cortex
  researchers found that

Answer 16

although the right eye was closed there was still activity in the left visual cortex , corresponding to the development of ocular dominance columns.
this was demonstrated by how during the period of high susceptibility in the fourth and fifth weeks eye close for as little as 3/4 days leads to a sharp decline in the number of cells that can be driven from both eyes.
Supports the idea that areas of the brain recieving no input can take over the function of highly stimulated areas , despite originally having different functions.

Question 17

• cognitive reserve may increase the rate of functional recovery
  cognitive reserve is the level of education a person has attained and how long they have been in eduction , research suggests that an increased cognitive reserve increase the likelihood of

Answer 17

making a disability free recovery (DDR) after a trauma , due to increased rates of neuroplasticity .
SCHNEIDER ET AL
found that out of 769 patients studied 214 achieved DFR after 1 year , of those 50.7% had between 12 and 15 years of education and 25.2% had more than 16 years .
suggests that individuals who have been in education longer may have developed the ability to form neuronal connections at a high rate , therefore experience high levels of functional recovery

Question 18

• there are limits to spontaneous and functional recovery
  although after trauma the brain activates secondary neural circuits which contribute towards reinstating normal function the brain can only

Answer 18

’ repair ‘ itself up to a specific point after which motor therapy or electrical stimulation is needed to increase recovery rates
LIPERTA ET AL
found that after constraint induced movement therapy , the motor performance of stroke patients improved significantly
suggests that functional recovery cannot be relied upon to reinstate normal function