plasticity and functional recovery

Question 1

What is synaptic pruning?

Answer 1

As we age, rarely used synaptic connections are deleted

Frequently used ones are strengthened

Question 2

What is plasticity?

Answer 2

Brain’s tendency to change and adapt as a result of experience and new learning

Question 3

Describe Maguire’s study into plasticity

Answer 3

Studied brains of London taxi drivers - more volume of grey matter in posterior hippocampus
Associated with development of navigational skills
Longer they’d been in the job - more pronounced difference

Question 4

Describe Draganski’s research into plasticity

Answer 4

Imaged brains of medical students before and after exam

Changes in posterior hippocampus and parietal cortex

Question 5

Describe Mechelli’s research into plasticity

Answer 5

Larger parietal cortex in brains of bilinguals

Question 6

What is functional recovery?

Answer 6

Areas of brain adapt after injury, trauma

Healthy brain areas take over functions

Question 7

What is spontaneous recovery?

Answer 7

Functional recovery which occurs quickly after trauma

Slows down after several weeks

Question 8

How does functional recovery work?

Answer 8

Brain forms synaptic connections close to area of damage

Unused secondary neural pathways are unmasked

Question 9

What structural changes occur in the brain during functional recovery?

Answer 9

Axonal sprouting
Reformation of blood vessels
Recruitment of homologous areas

Question 10

What is axonal sprouting?

Answer 10

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

Question 11

What is the recruitment of homologous areas?

Answer 11

On opposite side of brain to area of damage

Question 12

Evaluation - practical application

Answer 12

Understanding has contributed to neurorehabilitation

Physical therapy needed when spontaneous recovery slows down ie movement therapy

Question 13

Evaluation - negative plasticity

Answer 13

Maladaptive behaviour consequences
Phantom limb syndrome
Unpleasant sensations due to cortical reorganisation in somatosensory cortex as a result of limb loss

Question 14

Evaluation - age and plasticity

Answer 14

Functional recovery reduces with age
Bezzola - 40 hours of golf training produced changes in 40-60 year olds
Reduced motor cortex activity - more efficient neural representations

Question 15

Evaluation - support from animal studies

Answer 15

Hubel and Wiesel - sew one kitten eye shut and analyse brain’s response
Area of visual cortex associated with shut eye continued to process information

Question 16

Evaluation - concept of cognitive reserve

Answer 16

Person’s educational attainment influences how well their brain adapts
Schneider - more time in education = greater chances of disability free recovery
2/5 with 16+ years of education had DFR
10% with 12 years education had DFR