Biopscyhology Flashcards
(147 cards)
Define plasticity
The brain adapts to both its function and structure as a result of change in the environment.
What are the reasons for plasticity?
-learning new skills
-result of developmental changes
-response to direct trauma to an area of the brain
-response to indirect effects of damage such as brain swelling or bleeding from stroke
Define functional recovery
The functions that were preformed by areas of the brain that are lost (neuronal cell death) or damaged are preformed by undamaged areas of the brain :functional reorganisation
Define synaptic pruning
Synapses that are used frequently become stronger overtime however unused synaptic connections are lost this makes the brain a more efficient communication system overtime.
Define axonal sprouting
Existing neurons growing new axons to connect to adjacent neurons neural regeneration is the growth of new neuronal cells
Define Denervation supersensitivity
To compensate for the loss of axons in a pathway the remaining axons become more sensitive this can result in side effects such as pain.
Factors affecting functional recovery
-age, children have a better ability to recover
-gender, woman are more able to recover from brain damage
-rehabilitative access
What’s constraint induced therapy?
Stopping patients from using coping strategies like body and language for communication or using undamaged limbs for tasks which makes them improve via functional reorganisation.
What study did Maguire et al 2000 research?
Structural MRI brain scans of 16 male taxi drivers were compared to the brain scans of 16 matched non taxi drivers as a control. The posterior hippocampi in the London taxi drivers were found to be significantly larger than the controls also the size of the posterior hippocampi was positively correlated with the amount of the time working as a taxi driver.
What do maguire et al 2000 study findings suggest?
Suggests the physical structure of the brain is plastic able to reconfigure itself to better adapt to psychological demands in taxing drivers to improve memory formation.
What did Danelli et al 2013 study discover?
Case study of a 14 year old EB at the age of two and a half eb has a hemispherectomy of the left side of his brain to remove a tumour. This removed the language centres of brocas and wernickes areas immediately after surgery be had lost all language availability its however two years after recovery be had recovered his language ability even without his left hemisphere be developed normally as he ages aside form some dyslexia like symptoms researchers noted fmri scans showed the right hemisphere followed a left like blueprint for language this research’ suggests that the brain can adapt and recover after significant damage especially early in life with the right hemisphere taking roles usually performed by the left
Practical applications of brain plasticity and functional recovery
It’s been useful in rehabilitative therapy helping people return to their lives and productive work ultimately benefiting the economy
A strength of doing research on brain
Research on the individuals recovering lost function can help psychologists understand more about the functions of regions of the brain that were initially damaged
Individual differences in recovery of brain plasiticity and functional recovery Mathias 2015 do they have a positive or negative background?
Mathias 2015 metanalysis demonstrated in iq and educational background are positively correlated with better outcomes after traumatic brain injury suggesting some individuals have a greater cognitive reserve helping in recovery
Define the human nervous system
Body wide system of nerve cells that collects info from the world processes this info and then takes action by directing body organs and muscles via the transmission of electro chemical messages
What is the central nervous system made out of and what are their functions?
The brain and it controls all conscious and most unconscious processing
The spinal cord and it receives and transmits info and some reflex processing
Peripheral nervous system relays messages from environment to CNS via sensory neurons and from CNS to effector via motor neuron
What is the peripheral nervous system and what does it do?
Body wide network for messenger neurones where the sensory neurons deliver info to the CNS from the environment and motor neurons deliver from CNS to effector via
PNS is divided into autonomic NS and somatic NS
What does the somatic nervous system control?
Receives info from sensory receptors belonging to 5 senses and results in effectors being stimulated by CNS via motor neurons
What does the autonomic nervous system control?
Controls actions of internal organs and glands and its an involuntary system which means its not under conscious control e.g maintinaing 💗 and breathing rate
Its split into parasympathetic and sympathetic
What does the ANS sympathetic response do ?
Increases bodily activity and releases noradrenaline activates in stress responses flight to flight
-increases 💗 rate
-increases sweat
-breathing rate increases
-dilates pupils
-inhibits digestion
What does the ANS parasympathetic response do?
Decreases bodily activities and releases acetylcholine activates in rest
-💗 rate decreases
-sweat decreases
-breathing rate decreases
-constricts pupils
-stimulates digestion
Define homeostasis
Regulation of the internal environment in normal conditions there is a balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic systems this is called maintaining homeostasis.
What is the process of the reflex arc?
Sensations are detected and electrical impulses are sent through the cell body to the axon its then transformed into a chemical neuron the reflex response us passed onto the motor neuron the signal will reach the effector and cause the muscle to move.
What are the features of the relflex arc?
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