plasticity and functional recovery of brain

Question 1

what is placisticty

Answer 1

refers to brains ability to change. adapt based on experiences and new learning

Question 2

how does plasticity

Answer 2

pruning and bridging

Question 3

what is pruning

Answer 3

where connections are lost due to lack of use

Question 4

what is bridging

Answer 4

where connections are created due to use and new stimulus

Question 5

Q: What happens to synaptic connections during infancy?

Answer 5

A: The brain develops new synaptic connections rapidly.

Question 6

Q: What occurs as we age regarding synaptic connections?

Answer 6

A: Rarely used connections are deleted, and frequently used connections are strengthened.

Question 7

Q: What is the process of deleting rarely used connections and strengthening frequently used ones called?

Answer 7

synaptic pruning

Question 8

case study 1

Answer 8

Maguire et al -
study to measure grey matter in taxis drivers brains
by using MRI scans

found -
pos cor of size of posterior hippocampus and years of driving
part of brain = linked with development of spatial and navigational skills

Question 9

what is functional recovery

Answer 9

example of brain plasticity
- when brain suffered from damage from trauma e.g stroke
- healthy brain areas = take over damage/functions of missing areas
- normally happens quickly after the trauma and then slows down several weeks later

Question 10

what are the 3 ways fr can occur

Answer 10

axonal sprouting
reformation of blood vessels
recruitment of homologous brain areas

Question 11

axonal sprouting

Answer 11

• growth of new nerve endings, connects with other undamaged cells to form new pathways

Question 12

formation of blood vessels

Answer 12

blood vessels reformed , to ensure the brain functions in affected areas

Question 13

recruitment of homologous (similar) brain areas

Answer 13

• opposite hemp performs specific tasks

Question 14

ao3 strength

Answer 14

ChatGPT
P: Animal research provides support for neural plasticity.

E: Hubel & Wiesel (1963) sewed one eye of a kitten shut and studied the brain’s cortical responses.

E: The visual cortex area linked to the shut eye remained active, processing information from the open eye, challenging predictions of hemispheric lateralisation.

L: This study illustrates how loss of function can trigger compensatory brain activity, demonstrating neural plasticity.

Stretch: However, the research was highly unethical, lacking participant protection, so results should be interpreted cautiously. Additionally, human case studies should be explored for more definitive conclusions.

Question 15

ao3 strength 2

Answer 15

p- Jodi Miller’s case study supports brain plasticity.

E: Jodi suffered severe seizures from Rasmussen’s syndrome, leading to the removal of her right hemisphere during a hemispherectomy.

E: Remarkably, just 10 days post-surgery, Jodi left the hospital, able to speak, understand language, interact with friends, and participate in school.

L: This demonstrates the brain’s remarkable ability to adapt after trauma, reinforcing the theory of brain plasticity.

Question 16

ao3 limitation 1

Answer 16

p- limitation of neural plasticity is that brains ability to rewire itself can have potential negative consequences

e- e.g prolonged drug use = poorer cognitive functioning and increased rick of dementia ( Medina et al )

e - also 60-80% of amputtes develop phantom limb syndrome ( sensation in the missing limb as if it was still there), usually painful and troubling for sufferer , syndrome is thought to be due to reorganisation in the somatosensory cortex

l - suggests that despite positive connotations associated with functional recovery , structural and physical processes may not always be beneficial

Question 17

ao3 strength

Answer 17

P – Nonetheless, a strength of plasticity and recovery research is that it has practical applications.

E – Understanding processes involved in plasticity has contributed to the field of neuro-rehabilitation.

E – Techniques such as movement therapy and electrical stimulation of the brain to help with cognitive deficits resulting from strokes have been developed, as a result of research in this area.

L – This suggests that the theory of brain plasticity is valid as it has led to the development of therapies
designed to aid the functional recovery of the brain after trauma.