plasticity and functional recovery of brain

Question 1

plasticity

Answer 1

brains tendency to change and adapt (functionally and physically) as a result of new experience and learning

Question 2

functional recovery

Answer 2

form of plasticity: brains ability to redistribute or transfer functions, following damage through trauma

Question 3

synaptic pruning

Answer 3

as we age, rarely used connections are deleted and frequently used connection are strengthened

Question 4

axonal sprouting

Answer 4

undamaged nerve endings grow new nerve endings to reconnect neurons whose links were injured or severed

Question 5

recruitment of homologous areas

Answer 5

regions of opposite sides of the brain take on functions of damaged areas

Question 6

maguire (2000)

Answer 6

• the posterior hippocampi of taxi drivers were significantly larger relative to those of control subjects
• length of time spent as a taxi driver correlated positively with volume in the right posterior hippocampus
  —- shows neural plasticity

Question 7

maguire
— strengths

Answer 7

• used objective measurements e.g mri scans
• related to real-world behaviour
• implications for ability of brain to recovery following damage - realworld application

Question 8

maguire
— limitations

Answer 8

• limited sample size
• only male pps
• opportunity sample, pps may have been atypical , had particularly strong knowledge
• taxi drivers may have had larger hippocampi before becoming taxi drivers

Question 9

neurogenesis

Answer 9

creation of new neurons in the brain

Question 10

synaptogenesis

Answer 10

creation of new neural connections

Question 11

evaluation
- practical application

Answer 11

P: practical application
E: understanding processes involved in plasticity has contributed to the field of neuro-rehabilitation. techniques involved movement therapy and electrical stimulation of brain to counter deficits in cognitive functioning experiences following a stroke
L: strength because although the brain may be able to fix itself to some extent, this process requires some intervention to be fully successful

Question 12

evaluation of plasticity and functional recovery of brain
- support from animal research

Answer 12

P: support from animal research
E: researchers sewed one eye shut of a kitten and analysed brain response. found the area of visual cortex associated with the shut eye was not idle but continued to process information from the open eye
L: strength because it demonstrates how loss of function leads to compensatory activity in the brain - evidence of neural plasticity

Question 13

evaluation
- negative

Answer 13

P: could have negative consequences
E: 60-80% of amputees develop phantom limb syndrome - continued experience of sensations in the missing limb as if it were still there-painful
L: weakness because the structural and physical processes involved in functional recovery may not always be beneficial