Plasticity and Functional Recovery - BIOPSYCHOLOGY Flashcards
define plasticity
the ability to change and adapt in response to experience
what are brains like in newly born humans
incomplete and very small
when are connections in the brain made
after new experiences - very quickly in children
what happens to pathways in the brain which are used often
they will grow thicker and develop more branches
what happens to pathways in the brain which are not used often enough
they are eventually destroyed
what is plasticity also useful for in our body
recovery after injury
what is structural plasticity
when experience causes a change in the brain structure (growth)
what is functional plasticity
when localised functions move from a damaged region after injury (recovery)
step 1 - neuroplasticity, growth and change
synaptic pruning
what is synaptic pruning
axons that aren’t used will weaken and eventually be lost
step 2 - neuroplasticity, growth and change
neural unmasking
what is neural unmasking
a hormone; nerve growth factor (NGF) encourages growth
step 3 - neuroplasticity, growth and change
axon sprouting
what is axon sprouting
chemicals called neurotrophins sustain and encourage growth
stage 4 - neuroplasticity, growth and change
synaptic connection
