Plasticity and functional recovery of the brain after trauma Flashcards
Define plasticity.
The brains tendency to change and adapt throughout life.
What is synaptic pruning?
As we age, rarely used connections are deleted.
What is synaptic formation?
Where new connections are created due to new experiences and learning.
What was originally thought about synaptic changes in the brain, how has this changed?
It was thought that changes were restricted to the developing brain in childhood and that the brain is fixed as an adult. More recent research suggests that at any time in life existing neural connections can change and new connections can be formed due to learning and new experiences.
Explain research into plasticity (Maguire Taxi)
Maguire studied the brains of London taxi drivers and found significantly more volume of grey matter in the posterior hippocampus than in a matched control group. This part of the brain is associated with the development of spatial and navigational skills and as a part of their training, London cab drivers must take a complex test called ‘The Knowledge’. This assesses their recall of the city streets and possible routes. The longer that they had been in the job, the more pronounced was the structural difference. This shows that the brain of these taxi drives has over-time changed.
What are the two types of functional recovery?
Spontaneous recovery- the functional recovery that happens very quickly after trauma. Rehabilitation- Deliberate intervention to further prevent the persons recovery and this is after spontaneous recovery has stopped.
Define functional recovery.
Functional recovery is a form of plasticity which occurs after physical injury, or other forms of trauma such as the experience of a stroke. Unaffected areas of the brain are often able to adapt and compensate for those areas that are damaged. The functional recovery may occur in the brain after trauma.
Strength of plasticity and functional recovery of the brain after trauma. (Practical application)
Understanding the processes involved in plasticity has contributed to the field of neurorehabilitation. Following illness or injury to the brain, spontaneous recovery tends to slow down after a number of weeks so forms of physical therapy may be required. Techniques may include movement therapy and electrical stimulation of the brain to counter the deficits in motor and/or cognitive functioning. This shows that, although the brain may have the capacity to fix itself to a point, this process requires further intervention if it is to be completely successful.
Weakness of plasticity and functional recovery of the brain after trauma. (age)
Functional plasticity tends to reduce with age. The brain has greater propensity for reorganisation in childhood as it is constantly adapting to new experiences and learning.
COUNTERARGUMENT OF Weakness of plasticity and functional recovery of the brain after trauma. (age)
Bezzola demonstrated how 40 hours of golf training produced changes in the neural representation of movement in participants aged 40-60. Using fMRI, the researchers observed reduced motor cortex activity in the notice golfers compared to a control group, suggesting more efficient neural representations after training. This shows that neural plasticity does continue throughout the lifespan.
Case study to support plasticity and functional recovery of brain after trauma.
Gabby Giffords (GG) is a former US Democratic politician who survived an assassination attempt in 2011 when she was shot in the head. She was placed into a coma however within months she had made staggering process which the aid of physical rehabilitation. She was able to walk under supervision with perfect control of her left arm and leg and she was able to write with her left hand. She could read, understand and speak in short phrases. This is an example of the brains ability to heal itself.
