Plasticity And Functional Recovery Of The Brain After Trauma Flashcards
What was once believed about the brain?
It could only develop and change during infancy
What has research shown about the brain instead?
That it continues to develop and create new neural pathways and alter existing ones
What is the definition of plasticity?
The brains ability to change and adapt its structures and processes as a consequence of experience and new learning
During infancy the brain experiences rapid growth in the number of…
Synaptic connections it has
What is the peak amount of synaptic connections the brain has and when does it occur?
15,000 at age 2-3 years
How many times more synaptic connections does an infant brain have than an adult brain?
Twice as many
As we age, connections that are not used regularly are…
Deleted
Connections that we use regularly are…
Strengthened
What is synaptic pruning briefly?
The deleting of connections not used regularly and the strengthening of regularly used connections
Research suggests that at any time in life existing neural connections can change or new neural connections can be formed between neurons as a result of…
Leading and experience
Who conducted research into plasticity?
Maguire et al (2000)
Who was studied in maguires research?
The brains of London taxi drivers
What is responsible for spatial and navigational skills?
Posterior hippocampus
Where was there a greater volume of grey matter in experienced taxi drivers brains?
Posterior hippocampus
Those who had been a taxi driver for a long time had more grey matter compared to…
Those who had been a taxi driver for a short time
What was the difference in grey matter due to? What does this suggest?
Greater knowledge of the roads suggesting the structure of the brain has been altered by their experience = plasticity
What is an example of plasticity?
Functional recovery
What does functional recovery refer to?
The recovery of abilities and mental processes e.g. movement or language that have been affected as a result of brain damage or disease
The brain is able to rewrite itself by…
Forming new synaptic connections close to the damaged area of the brain
Secondary neural pathways that would not be typically used to carry out certain functions are activated to enable…
Functioning to continue in the same way as before
What are the two structural changes in the brain in functional recovery?
Axon sprouting and recruitment of homologous areas
Axonal sprouting involves the growth of new…
Nerve endings which connect with other undamaged nerve cells to form new neuronal pathways
Recruitment of homologous areas involved areas from the opposite side of the brain doing what? Give an example
Taking over the function of the damaged area of the brain e.g. if the Broca’s area was damaged in the left hemisphere, the right side equivalent would carry out its functions
