Plasticity + Functional Recovery Of The Brain After Trauma

Question 1

Brain plasticity

Answer 1

Refers to fact that brain can change + develop as a result of our experience + learning, and also that it can recover after trauma

Question 2

Toes of brain plasticity

Answer 2

Functional + structural

Question 3

Functional plasticity

Answer 3

Refers to brains ability to move function from a damaged area of the brain to other undamaged areas

Question 4

Structural plasticity

Answer 4

Refers to brains ability to actually change its physical structure as a result of learning

Question 5

Research - bilingual

Answer 5

Plasticity can be observed in the brains of bilinguals (mechelli et al)
Learning a second language is associateed with structural changes in the brain
The left inferior Paretial cortex is larger in bilingual brains than monolingual brains

Question 6

How does brain recovery work?

Answer 6

In functional recovery, brain continually adds new branches of axons + dendrites whole withdrawing old ones
Brain damage speeds up this recess sp brain is blue to rewire + reorganise itself by forming new synaptic connections close to the area of damage

Question 7

3 structural changes in the brain

Answer 7

Atonal sprouting
Denervation super sensitivity
Recruitment of homologous areas

Question 8

Atonal sprouting

Answer 8

Growth of new nerve endings which connect with other undamaged nerve cells to form new neuronal pathways

Question 9

Denervation super-sensitivity

Answer 9

When axons that do a similar job become aroused to a higher level to compensate for ones that r lost but can lead to over sensitivity such as pain

Question 10

Recruitment of homologous areas

Answer 10

When similar areas on OPP side of brain hemisphere take over the function of brain areas that have been damaged, utilising the corpus callosum so eventually functionally may shift back to damaged side