Week 1 Exam Questions Flashcards
what is salience
the brain will pay attention to what is important!
can we say things are weak after a stroke
no, because there is nothing wrong with the muscles, it is really an issue with activation and initiation and coordination, meaning that there is an issue in the network. We must increase motor firing rates
why does a decrease in torque production after stroke matter
the decrease in torque is from with a decreased speed of production, or because the muscle is at a shortened length. We must train people at that shortened length and train speed and power after a stroke
what is spasticity
velocity dependent hypertonicity. We have it when it is on one side of the joint, and there is resistance to externally imposed moments.
what is the controversy around spasticity
spasticity is often described as a movement disorder, but we test this is a static resting position. so how can we assume there is disordered movement if we do not test it while moving
after a stroke what must we manipulate to get normal movement
task, environment or the person ( we can make the environment more or less challenging, we can decrease the DOF, we can also increase their capacity to move by strengthening or practice)
what is recovery
permanent changes in organizations and structure and getting back what was lost
is the goal recovery or compensation
recovery: restore the function of tissue, and get them back to premorbid levels
what is compensation
something we self teach, and something we did not have before the injury. doing something old in a new way and using alternative parts
what is learned non use
comenation! we learn to not use one side, and figure out a way to do the task in a different way
what may be the primary reason that a motor deficit still remains
compensation, they have learned to not use it.
what is positive and what is negative neuroplasticity
positive: recovery
negative: compensation
what category does restoration, recruitment and retraining fall under, compensation or recovery
restoration is recovery
recruitment and retraining are compensation
what is a reversal of diaschisis
the spontaneous recovery, think about spinal shock. we get a sudden loss of function, and then we get it back with or without treatment
how do we get neuroanatomical reorganization
changing neural networks, altering NT levels, branching, sprouting, neurogenesis
neuroplasticity definition
brain can adapt, but changes function and structure of neurons, an growing new neurons, and reorganizing them. reorganize networks, and representations, and access latent circuits
for a therapist, what does neuroplasticity mean
that there is a way to train the brain to perform old functions
what are the structural and functional mechanisms of neuroplasticity
functional: increasing activity, excitability, and postsynaptic potential.
structural: more connections, axon growth, receptor density
what are some examples of non synaptic neuroplasticity
changing the number of ion channels, increasing responsiveness of synaptic inputs.
what happens when we rely on the less-affected limb, to reorganization
there is growth in the non-affected hemisphere, which we do not want. this is maladaptive, and can hurt our chances of changing the affected hemisphere.
with learning dependent plasticity, what leads to the rewiring of the motor cortex
skill learning!
what is an important stimulant for neuroplastic change
task specific motor learning
what is our best hope for brain remodeling.
learning