Plasticity & Functional Recovery Of The Brain After Trauma Flashcards

1
Q

What is plasticity?

A

The ability for the brain to adapt/change in response to experiences.

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2
Q

What is formed when new information is taken in?

A

Neural pathway.

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3
Q

How can neural pathways be strengthened?

A

Synaptic pruning (e.g. repetition & consolidation).

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4
Q

Unlike plasticity, localisation and lateralisation are _________.

A

Fixed.

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5
Q

What do neural pathways form?

A

A memory tract.

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6
Q

The less one uses a neural pathway, the ________ it gets, until it eventually gets ________.

A

Weaker, deleted.

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7
Q

The brain is in a continuous state of ________ as we learn and experience.

A

Change.

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8
Q

What is functional recovery?

A

The transfer of functions from a damaged area of the brain to undamaged areas after trauma (e.g. a stroke).

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9
Q

How does functional recovery occur?

A

-Neuronal unmasking.
-Axonal sprouting.
-Recruitment of homologous (similar) areas.

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10
Q

How does neuronal unmasking occur?

A

Dormant (asleep) neurones open connections to compensate for a nearby damaged area of the brain. They receive higher input due to damage elsewhere, opening new pathways in surrounding areas.

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11
Q

How does axonal sprouting occur?

A

New nerve endings grow and connect with undamaged areas. New blood vessels and pathways are created around the damaged areas.

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12
Q

How does recruitment of homologous areas occur?

A

Similar areas on the opposite hemisphere are recruited to perform specific tasks (e.g. if Broca’s area was damaged, then an area on the right hemisphere might take over).

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13
Q

What case studies supports plasticity?

A

-Maguire (2000) scanned the brains of 16 London ‘black taxi’ drivers [who are to remember the streets of London].
The drivers showed a particularly large posterior hippocampus. It was the largest for drivers with 40 years experience.
-Danelli (2013) investigated EB, who had most of his left hemisphere removed at 2 1/2 years old.
With intensive therapy, EB’s right hemisphere took over the left hemisphere’s functions (e.g. language, speech) due to EB’s maximal plasticity, as he was young.

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14
Q

What three factors determine the speed of functional recovery?

A

-Age (younger = quicker).
-Gender, (women = quicker).
-Education (higher = quicker).

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15
Q

How does age determine the speed of functional recovery?

A

Hart (2014) found that functional recovery is slower as age increases, but is also influenced by the severity of the impairment caused by injury.

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16
Q

How does gender determine the speed of functional recovery?

A

Research suggests that women recover quicker than men as their function isn’t as lateralised.

17
Q

How does education determine the speed of functional recovery?

A

Schneider (2014) found that patients with college education are 7X more likely to be disability-free (1 year after a moderate to severe brain injury) than those without.

18
Q

What would a patient need to do in order to speed up functional recovery?

A

Physiotherapy, speech therapy, etc.