brain plasticity and functional recovery

Question 1

What is brain plasticity?

Answer 1

the brain’s ability to change and adapt functionally and physically as a result of experience and learning. This includes the development of new neural connections or the reorganisation of existing ones.

Question 2

What evidence is there for plasticity from research on taxi drivers?

Answer 2

Maguire et al- structural MRI brain scans of male taxi drivers were compared to those of non-taxi drivers. posterior hippocampus in the taxi drivers was found to be larger than controls. size was also positively correlated with amount of time working as a taxi driver= physical structure of brain is plastic- can reconfigure itself

Question 3

Draganski et al

Answer 3

investigated how intensive learning affects brain structure. they found changes in the posterior hippocampus and parietal cortex of medical students after studying for exams. this suggests learning can lead to structural changes in the brain= role of neuroplasticity for cognitive demands

Question 4

What is functional recovery after trauma?

Answer 4

Functional recovery is a type of plasticity where, after injury or trauma (e.g. stroke), the brain reassigns functions from damaged areas to undamaged ones. This process can occur spontaneously or through rehabilitation.

Question 5

Name the processes involved in functional recovery.

Answer 5

regeneration- axonal sprouting

reformation of blood vessels

recruitment of similar areas

denervation of super sensitivity

Question 6

strength- practical application

Answer 6

neuro-rehab: research has shown that spontaneous recovery after brain injury slows down overtime. this necessitates interventions like therapy to maintain recovery process. movement therapy and electric stimulation tackle brain’s ability to reorganise neural pathways, and this improves cognitive functioning as the brain adapts= understanding plasticity can improve quality of life

Question 7

weakness- Negative consequences of plasticity

Answer 7

Plasticity can sometimes lead to maladaptive consequences- Not all neural reorganisation is beneficial, and it can result in unwanted effects. Ramachandran and Hirstein found 60–80% of amputees experience phantom limb syndrome, caused by reorganisation of the somatosensory cortex = plasticity can be helpful but it may also lead to problematic neural changes.

Question 8

strength- high ecological validity

Answer 8

while children’s brains are more adaptable to new experiences, Bezzola et al found that 40 hrs of golf training still produced changes in motor cortex of ppts 40-60 olds as shown by FMRI scans= although plasticity reduces with age, the brain retains its ability to adapt and reorganise in response to learning even in later life.

Question 9

strength- support from animal studies

Answer 9

Hubel and Wiesel stitched one eye of a kitten shut for 6 months and monitored brain activity in the visual cortex. They found the cortex remained active, with neurons becoming more responsive to the open eye = brain can adapt to changes in sensory input. This demonstrates that brain areas can reorganise and take over functions of other regions, showing that neuroplasticity is present not only in humans but also in animals = brain’s flexibility allows it to adjust to changes in its environment.