Plasticity And Functional Recovery Of The Brain After Trauma

Question 1

What is brain plasticity

Answer 1

Refers to the brains ability to change and adapt because of new experience, learning or injury etc. the brain continues to create new connections between its different structures in the form of neural pathways and later existing neural pathways in response to changing experiences or damage

Question 2

What does the brain develop from birth which allow neurons in one part of the brain to connect with neurons in other areas

Answer 2

Synaptic connections

Question 3

Functional recovery

Answer 3

The transfer of functions from a damaged area of the brain after trauma to other undamaged areas it does this through neuronal unmasking

Question 4

What is neuronal unmasking

Answer 4

Where unused synapses open connections to make up for a nearby damaged area of the brain

Question 5

Axonal sprouting

Answer 5

Damaged neurons sprout new axons to reconnect with undamaged neurons to rejoin damaged pathways

Question 6

Recruitment of other brain areas

Answer 6

Where similar brain structures on the opposite side of the brain preform the function of the damaged area

Question 7

Maguire et al research to support the notion of brain plasticity

Answer 7

London taxi drivers posterior hippocampus was positively correlated with how long pots had spent as a taxi driver