AOS DP 3 Flashcards
(22 cards)
Neuroplasticity
Refers to the ability of the nervous system to change its structure and functions as a result of experience and in response to injury
Neurons
- Basic unit of the nervous system.
- Specialized nervous system cells that are involved in receiving, processing and responding to information/
- It conducts electro-chemical signals
Dendrites
- Thin extensions of the neuron that receives information from other neurons.
- Can grow new connections to others
Soma (Cell Body)
- Combines the neural information received from the dendrites and sends it off to the axon.
- Contains the nucleus, which maintains the neuron and keeps it functioning
Axon
- sends information away from its cell body to other neurons
- The action along the axon is electrical then becomes chemical as it travels between neurons
Myelin
- White, fatty substance that coats and insulates the axon from the activity of other nearby axons.
Axon Terminals
- The small extensions at the end of an axon that sends messages away from the cell.
- Stores and secretes neurotransmitters to carry its messages to other neurons or cells.
Brain Injury
Refers to any brain damage that impairs or interferes with the normal functioning of the brain, temporally or permanently.
Traumatic Brain Injury
- Brain injury that can have a sudden onset when it occurs abruptly, usually at a single point in time.
- This type of ABI is caused by an external force, it is known as Traumatic Brain Injury.
Non Traumatic Brain Injury
- Brain injury that can have an insidious onset when it gradually develops over time showing signs and symptoms.
- ABI that occurs slowly over time as a result of internal factors is referred as Non Traumatic Brain Injury
Acquired Brain Injury
- Brain damage as a result of injury after birth that causes some form of dysfunction.
- Can be temporary or permanent, partial or total
- Causes: stroke, infection, trauma, substance abuse
Stroke
- When a blood vessel bringing oxygen or nutrients to the brain bursts or is clogged by a blood clot.
- As a result, the brain is deprived of blood, causing brain cells to die within minutes.
- This affects any mental processes or behaviours controlled by brain cells such as thinking, speech and movement.
Brain Plasticity
- Plasticity refers to the ability of the brain to change in response to experience.
- New neural pathways can form and link up with existing pathways and existing pathways can interconnect with other pathways
- Neurogenesis
After the third week of gestation to adulthood, new brain cells will form. These cells will divide and multiply in a process called neurogenesis.
- Neural migration
Where the neurons travels to the final location which is in the nervous system.
- Neural maturation
At the same time, dendrites will grow and expand to the axons of other neurons, which results in the formation of pathways between neurons.
- Synaptogenesis
As our brain starts to develop, it undergoes synaptogenesis, where the brain overproduces neurons and synaptic connections. This allows an infant to develop motor, cognitive and sensory skills required for development.
- Synaptic Pruning
After synaptic genesis, our brains undergoes the process of removing extra, weak and unused synaptic connections. This ensures that it is more efficient in brain function.
- Myelination
the white, fatty substance starts to form around the axon of the neuron, the more heavily myelinated the more efficient it is in brain function. Areas of the brain that are heavily myelinated are known as white matter, areas of the brain that are not heavily myelinated are known as grey matter.
Adaptive Plasticity
Refers to the ability of the brain to compensate for loss function and to maximise remaining functions in the event of brain injury and learning.
Rerouting
When an undamaged neuron that has loss connection with an active neuron may find a new active neuron and connect with it instead.
Sprouting
The growth of additional branches on the axons and dendrites to enable new connections
