Functional recovery

Question 1

What is functional recovery?

Answer 1

Following damage the brain can transfer functions usually performed by damaged areas to other undamaged areas
(neural plasticity)
- can occur quickly after trauma (spontaneous recovery)

Question 2

How does functional recovery work?

Answer 2

• the brain forms new synaptic connections close to the area of damage
• secondary neural pathways that are not used to carry out certain functions are activated

Question 3

What structural changes support functional recovery?

Answer 3

• axonal spouting
• denervation super sensitivity
• recruitment of homologous areas on opposite sides of the brian

Question 4

What is axonal sprouting

Answer 4

growth of new nerve endings which connect with other undamaged nerve cells to form new neuronal pathways

Question 5

What is denervation of super sensitivity

Answer 5

when axons that do a similar job get aroused to a higher level to compensate for the ones lost
- could have negative consequences of oversensitivity

Question 6

What is recruitment of homologous areas on opposite sides of the brain

Answer 6

this means specific tasks can still be formed
if an area is damaged in in one side of the brain then the other side equivalent will carry out its functions

Question 7

What was the aim of Danelli et als case study of EB into functional recovery?

Answer 7

to investigate whether the brain can functionally recover after trauma by redistributing functions

Question 8

What was the method of Danellis case study on EB

Answer 8

EB was operated on at the age of 2 1/2 to remove a large tumour from his left hemisphere. Due to the size of the tumour almost the entirety of his left hemisphere was removed. His linguistic abilities disappeared and he went thru a longer rehabilitation programme to recover his skills

Question 9

What were the results of Danellis case study on EB

Answer 9

EB’s language abilities started to improve at the age of 5. When tested again at 17 compared to normal controls his right hemisphere compensated for the left. However some areas in the brain were not the expected standard such as minor grammatical erros and a lack of speed

Question 10

What was the conclusion of Danellis case study on EB

Answer 10

Concluded that hemispheric lateralisation can be compensates for to at least a basic degree by the non specialist hemisphere

Question 11

What is a limitaion of Danellis case study on EB?

Answer 11

It is a case study. These are unrepresentative of the population as they are ideologic. We dont know if recovery demonstrated by EB happens in all humans

Question 12

What are strengths of functional recovery?

Answer 12

practical applications
supported by EB

Question 13

Evaluate practical applications as a strength of functional recovery

Answer 13

• contributed to the field of neurorehabilitation
• following injury to the brain spontaneous recovery tends to slow down after a few weeks so forms of physical therapy may be required to maintain improvements
• success of such therapies suggests the theory is valid. Also shows research into functional recovery is useful because it helps medical professionals know when interventions are needed

Question 14

What is a limitation of functional recovery?

Answer 14

May be affected by education

Question 15

Evaluate effect of education as a limitation of functional recovery

Answer 15

• level of a person’s educational attainment may influence how well the brain functionally adapts after injury
• Study discovered that the more time brain injury patients spent in education the greater chances of disability free recovery. those who had more that 16 years of education achieved DFR
• limitation as it implies people with brain damage who have less cognitive reserve are less likely to achieve full recovery. This suggests there are individuals differences in the success of functional recovery

Question 16

Evaluate age in relation to functional recovery?

Answer 16

• function recovery reduces with age. According to this the only option following traumatic brain injury beyond childhood is to develop compensatory behavioural strategies that work around the deficit
• however studies have suggested that even abilities commonly thought to be fixed in childhood can still be modified in adults with intense retraining
• despite these indications of adult plasticity Elbert et al conclude that the capacity for neural reorganisation is much greater in childhood and adults

Question 17

What is spontaneous recovery

Answer 17

Functional recovery happens quickly after trauma then slows down after several weeks