Plasticity And Functional Recovery Of The Brain After Trauma

Question 1

What is meant by plasticity?
(1)

Answer 1

Brains ability to change and adapt its structures and processes as a consequence of experience and new learning

Question 2

What is meant by synaptic pruning?
(include in p+f essay also)

Answer 2

• SP refers to the deletion of connections that arent used as regularly and strengthening of ones that are used reguarly
• during infancy the brain experiences a rapid growth in number of synaptic connections it has, approx 15,000 at age of 2-3 years
• this is around twice as many as adult brain
• research suggests that at any time in life, existing neural connections can change or new ones can be formed as a result of learning and experience
• used to be believed these changes only happen in infancy

Question 3

Who did research investigating plasticity and what did they do?
(do not include in p+f essay, only for p)

Answer 3

• maguire studied the brains of london taxi drivers
• found a greater vol of grey matter in the posterior hippocampus, resp for spatial + navigational skills, in those who had been a taxi driver for a long time comp to those for a short time
• this diff was due to greater knowledge of roads
• suggesting brain has been altered by their experience, supporting plasticity

Question 4

What is meant by functional recovery?

Answer 4

This is a type of plasticity which refers to recovery of abilities and mental processed, such as movement or lang, that have been affected as a result of brain damage or disease

Question 5

What happens during functional recovery?

Answer 5

• brain rewires itself by forming new synaptic connections close to damaged area of brain
• activates secondary neural pathways that wouldn’t typically be used to carry out these certain functions, to enable functioning to continue often in same way as before
• process creates structural changes in the brain such as axonal sprouting and recruitment of homologous areas

Question 6

What is meant by axonal sprouting?

Answer 6

• growth of new nerve endings that connect with other undamaged nerve cells
• to form new neuronal pathways

Question 7

What is meant by recruitment of homologous areas?

Answer 7

• areas from opp side of brain take over function of damaged area
• e.g. if brocas area is damaged in LH, right side equivalent would carry out its functions

Question 8

What are the five factors affecting recovery after trauma ? ONLY NEED FOR AO2 APPLICATION

Answer 8

PAGES

Perseverance
- some people may lose function due to biological reasons but another reason may be that the person isnt trying as they believe theyre unrecoverable as it takes a lot of effort to recover from trauma

Age
- younger ppl are more likely to recover from trauma than older indv, this is bc there is deterioriation of the brain in old age which affects the speed and extent of recovery

Gender
- evidence on gender diff is mixed but some research suggests that females are more likely to recover than males

Stress and alcohol
- after recovery from trauma, it takes a lot of effort to regain ability to function and alcohol and stress makes it more difficult for indv

Education
- schneider et al found that the more time ppl with a brain injury had spent in education, inc chance of a disability free recovery. 40% who achieved a DRF had spent 10 years or more in education compared to 10% who had less than 12 years, therefore suggesting other factors such as education can affect plasticity of brain and reduce functionality recovery of brain

Question 9

What are the three AO3 PEELS to evaluate plasticity and functional recovery of the brain after trauma?

Answer 9

RTS by EB
Discussion - low pop val
Strength - prac apps