Plasticity and Functional Recovery

Question 1

what is neural plasticity

Answer 1

the ability of the brain to change and adapt its structuyres and processes as a result of exerpience and learning

Question 2

give research on plasticity in early stages of life

Answer 2

gopnik et al

• during infancy the brain experiences rapid growth, peaking at about 15,000 synaptic connections per neuron

Question 3

how are rarely used connections deleted and frequently used connections strengthened

Answer 3

synaptic pruning

Question 4

what is functional recovery

Answer 4

follwing ohysical injurty or other forms of trauma, unnafected areas of the brain adapt and compensate

Question 5

what are tghe processes the brain goes through during functional recopvery

Answer 5

• axonal sprouting
• reformation of blood vessels
• denervation supersensitivity
• recruitment of homologus areas

Question 6

explain the following process of functional recovery:

axonal sprouting

Answer 6

the growth of new neerve endings which connect to other undamaged nerve cells

Question 7

explain the following process of functional recovery:

reformation of blood vessels

Answer 7

provides oxygen which facilitates growth of nerw nueral pathways

Question 8

explain the following process of functional recovery:

denervation supersensitivity

Answer 8

axons that do a similiar job become aroused to a hugher level to compensate for ones lost

Question 9

explain the following process of functional recovery:

recruitment of homologus areas

Answer 9

areas on the opposite side of the brain are recruited to perform specfic tasks

Question 10

give research that supports neural plasticity

the main research

Answer 10

Maguire

• studied hippocampus of black cab taxi drivers compared to normal people
• found more volume of grey matter in the posterior hippocampus in taxi drivers than the control group
• the longer the taxi drivers had been working the greater structural difference there was
• this shows learning experienxces altered the taxi drivers brains

Question 11

give an extra piece of research that suports neural plasticity

Answer 11

• brain imaging of students before and after exams
• showed leaning induces changed in the posteriror hippocampus and parietal cortex

Question 12

give a study that supports functional recovery

Answer 12

Taijiri et al

• stem cells provided to rats after brain trauma led to neuron like cell development
• suggets brain damaga can be repaired

Question 13

give a PEELH for the following

functional recovery

Answer 13

STRENGTH

• p - supporting research
• eg - stem cells on rats like to neuron like cell developmenty and aided brsin damage
• ex - increases validity of the theory of functional recovery
• l - suggests functional recovery is possible
• h - research done on rats. not generalisable due to brain differences

Question 14

give a PEELH for the following

plasticity

Answer 14

STRENGTH

• p - supporting evidence
• eg - Maguire. taxi driver study, found more grey matter in posterior hippocamopus which is responsible for spatial skills
• ex - increaes validity of neural plasticity
• l - understanding of plasticity can help develop real world applicatiopns
• h - small sample sizes