Plasticity and functional recovery of the brain after trauma BP

Question 1

plasticity

Answer 1

this describes the brain’s tendency to change and adapt as a result of experience and new learning

Question 2

functional recovery

Answer 2

a form of plasticity, the brain’s ability to redistribute or transfer functions usually performed by a damaged area to an undamaged area

Question 3

Gopnik et al

Answer 3

found that the rapid growth of synaptic connections peaks at 15,000 per neuron at 2-3 years old

Question 4

Brain plasticity

Answer 4

Can change throughout life

Question 5

synaptic pruning definition

Answer 5

synaptic connections reduced in adult brains as rarely used connections are forgotten and regularly used ones are strengthened

Question 6

synaptic pruning

Answer 6

enables lifelong plasticity where neural connections are formed in response to new demands in the brain

Question 7

Maguire et al studied brains of london taxi drivers

Answer 7

• Higher volume of grey matter in posterior hippocampus than in a matched control group
• Associated with the development of spatial and navigational skills
• Cabbies take ‘the knowledge test’ for London
• Assesses their recall of streets etc
• This alters the structure if the cabbies brains
• Positive correlation between length in the job and structural difference in brain

Question 8

Draganski et al supporting cabbie study

Answer 8

• imaged brains of medical students 3 months before and after final exams
• Learning-induced changes occurred in the posterior hippocampus and the parietal cortex

Question 9

after brain trauma

Answer 9

Healthy brain areas take over damaged, destroyed or missing areas.

Neuroscientists found that this can occur spontaneously or after several weeks/months (rehabilitative therapy may be required).

Question 10

What happens in the brain during recovery?

Answer 10

Rewires and reorganises itself by forming new synaptic connections. Secondary neural pathways are activated to allow functioning to continue (Doidge)

Question 11

Secondary neural pathways supported by numerous structural changes like …

Answer 11

• Axonal sprouting
• Denervation supersensitivity
• Recruitment of homologous areas (opposite side of the brain)

Question 12

Axonal sprouting

Answer 12

growth of new nerve endings which connect with other undamaged nerve cells to form new neural pathways

Question 13

Denervation supersensitivity

Answer 13

this occurs when axons that so a similar job become aroused to a higher level to compensate for the ones that are lost (can have negative consequences like pain)

Question 14

Recruitment of homologous areas (opposite side of the brain)

Answer 14

specific tasks can still be performed

Question 15

Age and plasticity

I

Answer 15

Brain plasticity may be a life-long ability

Question 16

age and plasticity

D

Answer 16

• In general it reduces with age
• **Bezzola et al **found that 40 hours of golf training makes changes in neural representations of movement in people aged 40-60
• Observations of increased motor cortex were made using fMRIs in novice golfers compared to a control group

Question 17

age and plasticity

E

Answer 17

More efficient neural representations after training

Neural plasticity can continue throughout life.

Question 18

Negative plasticity

I

Answer 18

May have negative behavioural consequences

Question 19

negative plasticity

D

Answer 19

Brains adaptation to prolonged drug use leads to poorer cognitive functioning in later life and an increased risk of dementia (Medina et al)

60-80% of amputees develop phantom limb syndrome, which is unpleasant and painful and due to cortical reorganisation in the somatosensory cortex (Ramachandran)

Question 20

negative plasticity

E

Answer 20

The brain’s ability to adapt to change is not always beneficial

Question 21

Seasonal brain changes

Answer 21

• In response to environmental changes
• The nucleus involved with sleep shrinks in spring and expands in autumn in animals (Tramontinand Brenowitz)
• Can’t be generalised to humans

Question 22

Real-world application

I

Answer 22

Contributed to neurohabilitation

Question 23

RWA

D

Answer 23

• Understanding how axonal growth is possible encourages new therapies to be tried
• Constraint-induced movement therapy

Question 24

RWA

E

Answer 24

The research is useful and helps medical professionals with any needed interventions

Question 25

Cognitive reseve

I

Answer 25

Level of education may influence recovery rates

Question 26

cognitive reserve

D/E

Answer 26

** Schneider et al** said that the more education the higher chances of having a disability-free recovery

40% of those with DFR had 16 years of education