Neuroplasticity

Question 1

What is neuroplasticity?

Answer 1

the brain’s capacity to continue growing and evolving in response to life experiences

Question 2

Name 3 studies that support brain plasticity.

Answer 2

Maguire et al 2000
- brain taxis of london had an enlarged hippocampus

Draganski et al 2004
- Jugglers had more grey batter at the end of the study compared to the control group

Mechelli et al 2004
- Monolinguals vs early bilinguals vs late bilinguals
- Bilinguals had more grey matter

Question 3

What is Functional Recovery?

Answer 3

when unaffected areas of the brain adapt and compensate for damaged areas

Question 4

What are 3 ways the brain changes during functional recovery?

Answer 4

1. Axonal sprouting
2. Reformation of blood vessels
3. Other areas taking over the function of the damaged areas

Question 5

Strengths of Neuroplasticity

Answer 5

Practical applications
- spontaneous recovery appears slow
- rehabilitative therapy can further recovery
- movement therapy

Animal studies
- sewed the eyes of kittens shut and analysed cortical responses
- still processed stimuli from the other eye
- HIGHLY UNETHICAL THOUGH
- ANIMAL STUDY - DIFFICULT TO APPLY TO HUMANS