Plasticity And Functional Recovery

Question 1

Plasticity refers to

Answer 1

The brains ability to change/adapt in response to experience or learning

Question 2

These changes can be structural meaning that the brain physically changes

Answer 2

Eg neurons can sprout new axons allowing new synaptic connections to be made to other neurons

Question 3

These changes can also be functional as in the case of functional recovery

Answer 3

This describes when after injury or illness the functions of damaged brain areas are taken over by undamaged areas

Question 4

Plasticity in the new born brain

Answer 4

In infancy, we experience the most rapid growth in synaptic connections

Question 5

Synaptic connections peak at around

Answer 5

15,000 at age 2-3

Question 6

This is how many times the amount found in the adult brain

Answer 6

Twice

Question 7

Hemisphrectomy example Villablanca

Answer 7

If the hemisphere is removed soon after birth, the individual can develop into an adult with no behavioural or cognitive impairments

Question 8

The brain at this stage has sufficient neaurons and

Answer 8

Synapses to cope with the damage

Question 9

Eg if the left hemisphere is removed, language can be

Answer 9

Transferred to the surviving hemisphere so this function is not affected

Question 10

Plasticity in the adult brain

Answer 10

Plasticity is not exclusive to the developing brain, we know this because learning and memory continue to function in old age

Question 11

Research example London taxi driviers

Answer 11

Cabbies required to take a complex exam called the knowledge- assessing their recall of around 25k city streets

Question 12

Mcguire et al found from MRI scans that the posterior hippocampus of cabbies was significantly

Answer 12

Larger in volume than that of a control group who were matched in age, education and handedness

Question 13

They also found a positive correlation

Answer 13

The longer they had been doing the job, the more pronounced difference in the brains

Question 14

However, later research showed that the

Answer 14

Anterior hippocampus of the cabbies was actually smaller than in controls and that their visual memory was poorer as a result

Question 15

Functional recovery

Answer 15

Healthy brain areas can take over the functions of damaged areas

Question 16

Axonal sprouting

Answer 16

Surviving neurons nearby grow new branches that make more synaptic connections to the damaged area

Question 17

Neurogenesis

Answer 17

Growth of new neurons in the damaged area

Question 18

Recruitment of homologous areas

Answer 18

Equivalent area on opposite side of in carries out function of damaged area

Question 19

These mechanisms allow the functions of the damaged area to

Answer 19

Continue often as normal

Question 20

There is supporting evidence for plasticity

(Kuhn 2014) Playing video games demands complex

Answer 20

Cognitive and motor skills, Grey matter in the cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum was significantly increased in ppts who has been trained to play Supermario for 30 mins a day for 2 months

Question 21

This means the idea of plasticity is valid because

Answer 21

Synaptic connections for strategic planning, working memory and motor performance are strengthened due to experience and learning demonstrating the brains ability to change and adapt.

Question 22

Plasticity research has practical applications

This is because the understanding achieved about the processes involved has led to the development of

Answer 22

Treatments to help functional recovery

Question 23

Rehabilitation techniques such as movement therapy (where lost motor functions are intensively practised)

Answer 23

And electrical stimulation of the brain are used to counter some of the deficits experienced after brain damage eg a stroke

Question 24

Stem cell research may, in the future make neuronal transplantation possible, whereby,

Answer 24

Stem cells are implanted into the damaged ages and potentially grow into neurons making synaptic connections to restore behavioural functions

Question 25

This means that plasticity has been valuable

Answer 25

In helping lives of brain injury patients

Question 26

Functional recovery depends on a number of factors

This is because research suggests there are

Answer 26

Individual differences in the extent to which the brain recovers from the following injury

Question 27

Teuber found that recovery from brain damage in soldiers was more likely

Answer 27

In those under 20 60% showed significant improvement in movement and visual problems compared to those over 26 only 20% showed similar improvements

Question 28

Schneider et al found that 40% of patients who achieved a disability free recovery had

Answer 28

16+ yrs of education compared to only 10% of those who had less than 12 years of education

Question 29

This means that functional plasticity may reduce with

Answer 29

Age and education

Question 30

The effects of plasticity can be negative

Answer 30

This is because in some circumstance the brains ability to elf has maladaptive behavioural consequences

Question 31

Medina et al found that prolonged use of recreational drugs causes brain reorganisation that results in

Answer 31

Poorer cognitive functioning as well as am increased risk of dementia in later life

Question 32

60-80% of amputees develop phantom limb syndrome where they still experience sensations in missing

Answer 32

Limbs which are often unpleasant/painful, this results from reorganisation in the somatosensory cortex that occurs after the loss of a limb

Question 33

This means that brain plasticity is not always an adaptive phenomenon and

Answer 33

That in such cases patients may require further medical care/treatment to deal with its effects