Plasticity and functional recovery of the brain after trauma

Question 1

What is brain plasticity?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What are the 3 ways that brain plasticity can be done?

Answer 2

1. Synaptogenesis
2. Neurogenesis
3. Synaptic pruning

Question 3

What is synaptogenesis?

Answer 3

1. Where new synapses are formed
2. Can occur throughout life, but during infancy there’s an explosion of synaptic formation

Question 4

What is neurogenesis?

Answer 4

1. When new neurons are grown
2. In infancy this is responsible for populating the growing brain with neurons, but also occurs in adulthood

Question 5

What is the research on brain plasticity within computer gaming?

Answer 5

1. Kuhn et al illustrated the potential benefits of playing super mario for 2 months for at least 30 minutes a day.
2. They found significant increases in areas of the brain (cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus) responsible for key behaviours such as working memory, planning and motor performance.

Question 6

What is the research on brain plasticity within taxi driving?

Answer 6

1. Maguire et al studied the brains of London taxi drivers by using MRI’s and found more grey matter in the posterior hippocampus than in the control group.
2. This brain part is associated with the development of spacial + navigational skills in humans.
3. As part of training, text drivers must take a complex test called ‘the knowledge’ which assesses their recall of city streets and possible routes.
4. The longer they do the job, the structural difference is more pronounced.

Question 7

What are the 3 types of functional recovery?

Answer 7

1. Neural regeneration
2. Neuronal unmasking
3. Neural reorganisation

Question 8

What is neural regeneration?

Answer 8

1. Occurs when new nerve endings grow and connect with undamaged areas.
2. Enable the recovery of previously lost functioning.

Question 9

What is neural reorganisation?

Answer 9

Occurs when the brain transfers functions from the damaged area to the undamaged sections of the brain.

Question 10

If the point is:

A strength of functional recovery is that there’s research to support the idea that the brain can recover from significant trauma.

What is the example and link?

Answer 10

Example- For example, Danelli investigated a case of a boy who had most of his left hemisphere removed at age 2.5 to remove a tumour. With intensive therapy, his right hemisphere was able to take over almost all of the functioning (language, speech, etc..) that would normally have been done by the left.

Link- This implies that plasticity of the brain is possible, and people can regain functioning, which adds credibility and understanding to the explanation.

Question 11

If the point is:

However, a weakness of functional recovery is that recovery from brain trauma is not universal and there are a number of factors that may influence an individuals ability to recover.

What is the evidence, explanation and link?

Answer 11

Explanation- One identified factor is age, with most research indicating that functional recovery reduces with age.

Evidence- For example, Teubar found a negative correlation with age and recovery. He studied soldiers with brain damage and found that recovery was age dependant. 60% of soldiers under 20 showed significant improvement and 20% of soldiers over 26 showed similar improvement.

Link- This could mean that recovery is more complex, and someones age must be taken into account when looking at functional recovery.

Question 12

If the point is:

Another weakness of functional recovery is that studies such as Boyke et al found that even 60 year olds could regain some abilities thought to be fixed with intense training.

What is the evidence and link?

Answer 12

Evidence- However, Elbert et al concluded that the capacity for neural reorganisation is much greater in children than in adults, as demonstrated buy the extended practice that adults require in order to produce changes.

Link- This suggests that beyond childhood, those suffering from brain trauma may need to develop compensatory behavioural strategies to work around the deficit (e.g. seeking social support).

Question 13

If the point is:

Another strength of functional recovery is that the research will inevitably lead to very useful practical applications.

What is the evidence and link?

Answer 13

Evidence- Newer research into the role of stem cells has revived interest in neural transplantation. In theory, stem cells implanted in a damaged area have the potential to grow into neurons and make functional synaptic connections that would help restore behavioural functions.

Link- This research is in its early days, so there’s a long way to go yet, but is very interesting to explore.

Question 14

What are the evaluations of functional recovery?

Answer 14

+ There’s research to support the idea that the brain can recover from significant trauma

– Recovery from brain trauma isn’t universal and there are a number of factors that may influence an individuals ability to recover

– Studies such as Boyke et al found that even 60 year olds could regain some abilities thought to be fixed with intense training

+ The research will inevitably lead to very useful practical applications