Lesson 9 plasticity and functional recovery biopsych

Question 1

Define brain plasticity

Answer 1

The ability of the brain to modify the structure and function based on experience

Question 2

What does plasticity allow?

Answer 2

The brain to cope better with indirect effects of brain damage like swelling or bleeding

Question 3

Kuhn et al (2014)

Answer 3

Found a significant increase in grey matter in the hippocampus, visual cortex and cerebellum of the brain after participants played video games for 30 mins a day over a two month period

Question 4

Davidson et al (2004)

Answer 4

Demonstrated the permanent change in the brain generated by prolonged meditation. Buddhist monks who meditated frequently had a much greater activation of gamma waves which coordinate neural activity than students who had no experience of meditation

Question 5

Maguire et al (2000)

Answer 5

Found that posterior hippocampal volume of London Taxi drivers’ brains was positively correlated with their time as a taxi driver and there was significant differences between taxi drivers’ brains and those of a control group

Question 6

Define functional recovery

Answer 6

Where the brain recovers abilities previously lost due to brain injury

Question 7

Steps of functional recovery

Answer 7

1) neuronal unmasking
2) neural reorganisation
3) neural regeneration

Question 8

What is neuronal unmasking?

Answer 8

Dormant synapses are activated to compensate for damaged areas of the brain.
Structural changes support neuronal unmasking like axon sprouting, reformation of blood vessels, recruitment of homologous areas

Question 9

What is axon sprouting?

Answer 9

When undamaged axons grow new nerve endings to reconnect the neurons whose links were severed by damage thus making new neural pathways

Question 10

What does reformation of blood vessels do?

Answer 10

Facilitates the growth of new neural pathways

Question 11

What does recruitment of homologous areas mean?

Answer 11

The intact hemisphere takes over the functions of the damaged hemisphere

Question 12

What is neural reorganisation?

Answer 12

Transfer of functions from damaged areas of the brain to undamaged areas, greater in children than adults

Question 13

What is neural regeneration?

Answer 13

Growth of new neurons and/or axons and dendrites to compensate for damaged areas

Question 14

strengths of functional recovery

Answer 14

practical applications to the filed of neurorehabilitation
led to developments of techniques such as motor therapy and electrical stimulation of the brain to counter the negative effects and deficits in motor and cognitive functions following accidents, injuries and strokes

Question 15

weaknesses of functional recovery

Answer 15

variable factors affect recovery after trauma.
research has found that going to university, age, gender, physical exhaustion, stress and alcohol can impair functional recovery