Functional Recovery Flashcards
(9 cards)
Functional recovery
The brain’s ability to move functions from a damaged area to an undamaged area AFTER TRAUMA.
Process is initially quick (spontaneous recovery) but slows down > leads to the need for rehabilitation.
2 methods that make spontaneous recovery happen
Neural masking, stem cells
Neural masking
Dormant areas in your brain become unmasked. New neural pathways are forced down dormant areas and now become activated.
Stem cells
Implanted (from bone marrow) and either replace the dead, rescue the dying or act as a link between the living and the dying.
How does it happen? (3 ways)
- axon sprouting
- denervation supersensitivity
- recruitment of homologous area
Axon sprouting
Growth of new nerve endings connects with undamaged nerve endings to form new neural pathways
AO3 - STRENGTHS AND COUNTERS
+ Rats with brain injury were assigned to either stem cell condition or placebo condition. After 3 months, “stem cell rats” showed development of neuron like cells in the brain injury area. HOWEVER animal research, lacks generalisability and is unethical as animals can’t consent.
+ Schneider: people with the equivalent of a college education are 7x more likely to be disability free, 1 year after trauma, compared to those who didn’t finish high school. Education provides a cognitive reserve (links to plasticity), linking neural adaption needed for brain functional recovery.
RWA- This has led to the development of neuroabilitation- the use of motor therapy and electrical stimulation of the brain to counter negative effects/deficits in motor and cognitive functioning following trauma.
Denervation super-sensitivity
Axons that do a similar job become aroused to a higher level to compensate for those lost.
Recruitment of homologous area
Recruitment of homologous (same function) areas on the opposite sides of the brain to perform specific tasks.
