Plasticity and Functional Recovery of the Brain after Trauma

Question 1

what is plasticity

Answer 1

Plasticity = the brain’s ability to physically and functionally adapt and change in response
trauma, new experiences and learning.

Question 2

functional recovery:

Answer 2

the transfer of functions from a damaged area of the brain after trauma to other undamaged areas.

Question 3

describe the process of functional recovery (3).

Answer 3

Axonal sprouting– growth of new nerve endings which connect with undamaged nerve cells to form new neural pathways

Reformation of blood vessels- facilitates the growth of new neural pathways

Recruitment of homologous areas- where an area has been damaged the opposite side of the brain may take on those abilities

Question 4

explain the process of neural unmasking

Answer 4

dormant synapses open connections to compensate for nearby damaged areas of the brain

Question 5

A03: evidence for structural plasticity

Answer 5

a study by maguire found an increase in grey matter in the posterior hippocampus of london taxi drivers in comparison to a control group.
the size difference was also positively correlated with the length of time spent as a taxi driver.
this shows that the brain can permanently change in response to frequent exposure to a specific task as greater demands on memory meant more neurons transferred to hippocampus.

Question 6

A03: useful for real world applications- neurorehabillitation

Answer 6

understanding the processes involved in plasticity has contributed to the field of neurorehabilitation. moreover, since spontaneous recovery tends to slow down after a number of weeks, forms of physical therapy may be required to maintain improvements. for example, techniques may include movement therapy and electrical stimulation to counter the effects of cognitive decline. therefore this understanding has positive applications for the development of therapies to ensure that functional recovery is completely successful.

Question 7

A03: limitations of functional recovery

Answer 7

while there is evidence fore functional recovery, this ability can deteriorate with age. elbert et al concluded that the capacity for neural regeneration is much greater in children than adults. therefore we must consider the individual differences when assessing the likelihood of functional recovery in the brain after trauma.