Role Of The Brain and its Mental Processes Flashcards
What the term Neuroplasticity mean
Refers to the ability of the brain and other parts of the nervous system to change in response to experiences. This includes the brains capability to recover from a compensate for loss of function through injury.
Quality of the brain that allows the brain to remember, learn and respond to changes
Neuroplasticity
- Long turn potential. 
This refers to the strengthening of synaptic connections as a result of repeated action.
When we gain new experiences some signup connections that are frequently used are strengthened through this process
Eg. Every time you ride a bike, the new pathways involved in riding a bike become activated, these neural pathways become stronger and riding a bike becomes a habit.
Neuroplasticity
Long-term depression 
This refers to the awakening of synaptic conditions as a result of repeated low level activation of certain synaptic connections.
Eg. If you don’t ride your bike for an extended period of time the signup dick connections involved will not be activated leading to awakening of the sign optic connections.
May forget how to ride a bike
How does Neuroplasticity occur?
- In response to ageing and the learning associated maturation. Known as developmental placidity.
- In response to a need to adapt such as response to brain trauma and injury this refers to as adaptive plasticity.
Developmental plasticity brain changes in response to experiences
Changes in the brain that occur in response to ageing and maturation.
When an individual learn something new, the axon terminals of neurons grow and form connections to new by neurons creating signups to represent and retain this learning.
This occurs throughout the life span but is most intense in childhood.
Developmental plasticity brain changes in response to experiences
Stage 1
Synaptic pruning which is the elimination of underused synapses.
Underused synapses are cut off or “pruned” to free up space in the brain and allow for strengthening of frequent use signups. This occurs through a lifetime but the period which occurs after infancy are the most intense periods.
Developmental plasticity brain changes in response to experiences stage two 
Myelination, which is the formation and development of myelin around the axon of a neon.
The axon of a neuron becomes myelinated to facilitate more effective communication of Messages, this is done by protecting the neuron from Interference from other neurons. This means that as we develop and learn new skills communication in the brain can happen quicker and smoothly.
What is Adaptive plasticity
brain changes in response to trauma
Enable the brain to recover from a loss of function and maximise remaining functions .
How does adaptive placidity work
This is a factor called sprouting, which is the ability of a neuron to develop new branches on the dendrites of axons. This exp the rage of a neuron particularly when the neuron has been damaged from trauma enabling new neural connections to form.
Other than sprouting what is another way adaptive plasticity work?
In contrast to sprouting, Rerouting is a neurons ability to form new connections with other undamaged neurons. The neon that is rerouting a band its connection with a damaged neuron enabling new neuron connections to be formed after trauma.
Critical periods
A narrow developmental period in which a specific function or skills must be learnt.
Sensitive periods
Optimal developmental period for a specific function or skill to be learn, which is a larger window of opportunity.
Much lengthier and more difficult process, eg learning new language
Acquired brain injuries (ABI)
What does the term mean
An acquired brain injury refers to all types of brain injuries that occur after birth. It is an umbrella term for two types of acquired brain injuries, traumatic brain injuries and non-traumatic brain injuries.
Traumatic brain injuries
- Acquired brain injuries (ABI)
Occurs when there is sudden physical trauma and Damage to the brain caused by an external force.
- falls
- sports injury’s
- car crash 
How does a traumatic brain injury work?
Surrounding and protecting the brain is a fluid called cerebrospinal fluid. when a persons head is hit very hard this fluid is not enough to stop the brain from hitting the thick surrounding membranes or bones of the skull.
Damage results in bruising swelling bleeding and tearing.
