Plasticity and functional recovery

Question 1

What is plasticity

Answer 1

Brains ability to adapt and change(functionally/physically) due to training and experience

Question 2

What is synaptic pruning

Answer 2

Removal of excess neurones and synapses

Infants have twice as many neurones/synapses but unused ones are removed

Question 3

Describe Maguire et al’s study

Answer 3

Aim - Investigate whether plasticity can be detected in London taxi driver brains/investigate hippocampus functions in spatial memory

Procedure - 16 right handed male london taxi drivers
MRI scans conducted due to use of spatial skills
Matched pairs design - Age and gender
Control group of males who don’t drive taxis

Findings - More grey matter in hippocampus of taxi drivers than control group
Longer time in job = More grey matter found

Conclusion - Experiences in everyday life e.g. taxi driving can shape and change brain structure and function

Question 4

What is functional recovery

Answer 4

After trauma/injury, unaffected areas of brain adapt to compensate for damaged areas

May occur quickly and slows down after weeks/months

Question 5

What happens in the brain during recovery

Answer 5

Brain reorganises itself by forming new synaptic connections close to damaged area

Neuronal unmasking - Dormant synapses open connections to compensate

Axon sprouting - New nerve endings grow and connect with undamaged areas

Reformation of blood vessels

Homologous areas on opposite hemisphere do similar tasks to damaged area

Question 6

Evaluate plasticity/functional recovery

Answer 6

Cognitive reserve must be considered - more time in education leads to higher recovery

Research to support - increased neurons in rat hippocampus of those in complex environments compared to cages

Real world application - Neurorehabilitation using motor therapy/electrical stimulus developed

Biologically reductionist - Only takes into account hippocampus size and not other factors