Plasticity and functional recovery of the brain after trauma

Question 1

What is plasticity?

Answer 1

The brains tendency to change and adapt as a result of experience and new learning. (growth of new connections)

Question 2

What is functional recovery?

Answer 2

A form of plasticity following damage through trauma, brains ability to transfer functions from damaged to undamaged areas of the brain.

Question 3

What has rapid growth in infancy?

Answer 3

Synaptic connections

Question 4

Why do synaptic connections decrease as we get older?

Answer 4

We don’t need to use as many and rarely used connections are deleted.

Question 5

What is is called when synaptic connections are deleted?

Answer 5

Synaptic pruning

Question 6

What was Davison et al study?

Answer 6

Buddhist monk study
- shows the permanent change in the brain generated by prolonged meditating
- Buddhist monks who meditate frequently have greater activation of gamma waves
- shows brains ability to adapt to new experiences

Question 7

What is axon sprouting?

Answer 7

new nerve endings grow and connect with undamaged areas.

Question 8

What is the process of functional recovery?

Answer 8

1) axon sprouting
2) reformation of blood vessels
3) recruitment of homologous (similar) areas on the opposite hemisphere to do specific tasks

Question 9

Strength - taxi driver study

Answer 9

• Maguire et al

Question 10

Strength plasticity - animal studies (rats) + counterargument

Answer 10

• Kempermann et al found evidence of an increased amount of neurons in the brains of rats housed in complex environments compared to rats in lab cages
• this suggests environment can have an affect on the brains ability to change
• (C) animals are used so its hard to generalise the results to humans

Question 11

Strength functional recovery - animal studies rats (stem cells)

Answer 11

• Tajiri et al (2013) randomly assigned rats into 2 groups, one received stem cells other did not
• after 3 months stem cell group showed development of neuron like cells in the area of injury
• provides support for the importance of stem cells in brain recovery

Question 12

Weakness - individual differences (age)

Answer 12

• possible functional recovery could deteriorate with age
• Elbert et al concluded that the capacity for neural reorganisation was greater in children, meaning neural regeneration is less effective in older brains
• individual differences need to be considered when assessing likelihood of functional recovery after brain injury