plasticity and functional recovery

Question 1

what is brain plasticity

Answer 1

during infancy the number of synaptic connections grows to its maximum (15 000)
this is about twice as many as an adult brain
as we progress barely used connections are deleted and frequently used connections re strengthened- synaptic pruning
this process enables lifelong plasticity where new connections are formed when new information is learned

Question 2

research into brain plasticity

Answer 2

maguire- taxi study
found significantly more volume oif grey matter in the posterior hippocampus than in a matched control group
this part of the brain is associated with spatial and navigational skills
as part of their trainibg they have to complete a test called the knowledge
positive correlation between the longer the taxi driver had been in the job the more pronounced the structural difference

Question 3

what is functional recovery

Answer 3

following a brain injury or trauma eg a stroke areas of the brain are often able to adapt and replace the functioning of the damaged part