Plasticity and functional recovery of the brain after trauma

Question 1

What is synaptic pruning

Answer 1

• when rarely used connections are deleted and frequently used connections are strengthened

Question 2

What has recent research shown

Answer 2

• neural connections can change during any time within your life, new connections can also be formed

Question 3

What did Maguire find

Answer 3

• more grey matter in the posterior hippocampus in London taxi drivers
• This part of the brain is associated with the development of spatial and navigational skills
• the result of learning experience is to alter the structure of the taxi drivers’ brains

Question 4

Outline how functional recovery of the brain after trauma can occur

Answer 4

• healthy areas of the brain may take over the functions of the areas that are damaged
• this process can occur right after trauma (spontaneous recovery) and may slow down after a couple weeks or months
• at this point patients may require rehabilitative therapy to further recovery

Question 5

Define the term axonal sprouting

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Define the term recruitment of homologous areas

Answer 6

• when similar areas of the brain take over the task of the damaged area

Question 7

What are some structural changes that may occur in the brain

Answer 7

• axonal sprouting
• reformation of blood vessels
• recruitment of homologous areas

Question 8

What has this new found understanding contributed practically

Answer 8

• contributed in the field of neurorehabilitation
• techniques may include movement therapy and electrical stimulation of the brain
• deeper understanding into plasticity has shown that recovery alone can slow down after weeks or months of progress and so some intervention has to take place in order for recovery to be fully successful

Question 9

How can the brains ability to rewire itself have maladaptive outcomes

Answer 9

• drug use has been shown to result in poorer cognitive functioning as well as an increased risk of dementia later in life, 60-80% of amputees have been shown to develop phantom limp syndrome (sensation of missing limp even though it is still there)