Plasticity and Functional recovery

Question 1

plasticity

Answer 1

• the brain is able to adapt and change both physically and functionally as a result of experience and new learning
• research shows plasticity can occur even in old age
• synaptic connections rapidly created in the first 2-3 years of life

Question 2

synaptic reweighting

Answer 2

strengths of connections changes on how often they’re used

Question 3

creating new synapses

Answer 3

created when involved in experiences that require learning

Question 4

synaptic pruning

Answer 4

removal of unused connections for others, occurs in teenage brains for more sophisticated connections associated with the adult brain

Question 5

Maguire et al (2003)

Answer 5

• studied MRIs of London cab drivers
• found lots of grey matter in the posterior hippocampus compared to control ppts
• this are is associated with the development of spatial and navigational skills

Question 6

functional recovery

Answer 6

the brains ability to redistribute or transfer functions usually performed by damaged areas to other undamaged areas

Question 7

how does the brain recover damaged functions after trauma

Answer 7

1. neural unmasking
2. axonal sprouting
3. recruitment of homologous
4. reformation of blood vessels

Question 8

neural unmasking

Answer 8

• dormant neural connections that are activated once they have been sufficiently stimulated
• allows new connections to be created

Question 9

axonal sprouting

Answer 9

growth of new nerve endings which connect with other undamaged nerve cells to produce new neural pathways

Question 10

recruitment of homologous

Answer 10

recruitment of homologous areas to the opposite side of the brain to perform specific functions

Question 11

reformation of blood vessels

Answer 11

damaged vessels reformed to ensure oxygen meets damaged areas

Question 12

stem cell treatment

Answer 12

• have the potential to treat brain damage and neurodegenerative disorders through stem cell transplants

Question 13

evaluation points

Answer 13

• practical application
• negative plasticity
• animal studies
• age differences in functional recovery

Question 14

PEEL: practical application

Answer 14

• e.g. constraint induced movement therapy used to aid stroke patients recovery
• TMB research into plasticity has developed a deeper understanding of the brain during functional recovery
• increased contributions to neurorehabilitation

Question 15

PEEL: negative plasticity

Answer 15

RESEARCH SUPPORT
- prolonged drug use linked to poorer cognitive functioning and increased risk of dementia
- while the brain can adapt, its not always beneficial

Question 16

PEEL: animal studies

Answer 16

FUNCTIONAL RECOVERY IN ANIMALS
- hubel et al: sewed left eye of kitten shut and found visual cortex of both hemispheres processed the info
- shows brain has capability to change due to experiencing trauma

Question 17

PEEL: age differences in functional recovery

Answer 17

• bezzola et al: gave a group of 65+ 40hrs of golf training and found more activity and neural connections in the motor cortex than the control group
• shows plasticity doesn’t always decline with age