Neuroplasticity

Question 1

What is the difference between short term and long term neuroplasticity?

Answer 1

• Short Term: Efficiency of synaptic connections

- Long Term: Structural changes in organization and number of connections among neurons; process of learning

Question 2

type of memory: Working; Limited capacity for information; Lasts a few moments

Answer 2

short term

Question 3

Type of memory: Related to the process of learning; Leads to structural neuronal changes in synaptic connections; Less subject to disruption

Answer 3

Long term

Question 4

What neuroplastic change occurs when there is a decrease in synaptic activity between sensory neurons and their connections to interneurons and motor neurons?

Answer 4

Habituation

- reduction in the amplitude of synaptic potentials

Question 5

What neuroplastic change occurs when there is a strengthening response to potentially injurious stimuli?

Answer 5

sensitization

Question 6

Where does long term potentiation occur?

Answer 6

Hippocampus

- for LTP to occur, neurons need firing at the pre- and post-synaptic cells simultaneously for this to resul

Question 7

When does a short term early phase of LTP occur?

Answer 7

1-3 Hours

• Does not require protein synthesis
• Functional change, but no structural change
• No new synapse development

Question 8

What long term changes are seen in long-term potentiation?

Answer 8

1. Requires protein synthesis and protein-mediated gene expression
   - Involves Structural Change
2. Creation of new synaptic release sites
   - takes place >24 hours

Question 9

What are the 3 requirements for LTP to occur?

Answer 9

1. Cooperativity - More than one nerve fiber must be activated
2. Associativity - Contributing fibers (pre-synaptic neuron) and the postsynaptic neuron must be activated together
3. Specificity - Potentiation must be specific to only the activated pathway; specific connection between preysyn and postsyn neuron

Question 10

What is required for motor learning to shift from explicit to implicit?

Answer 10

practice!

• improves synaptic efficiency between sensory and motor cortices
• in case of lesion, alternative pathways take over action

Question 11

What is required for dual tasking?

Answer 11

automation

- as skill develops, general attentional resources become available for other tasks

Question 12

what does brain activity look like in cognitive and automatic phase of learning?

Answer 12

• Cognitive - Widespread, Primarily Cortical Regions

- Automatic - Increased in subcortical motor regions and decreased in cortical regions

Question 13

Can older adults achieve automaticity?

Answer 13

yes, but it requires more brain activity, even when the task is automatic

• leads to faster fatigue
• must be cautious about activities you choose to perform dual tasking

Question 14

Would a person with PD be able to achieve automaticity?

Answer 14

only with simple tasks AND cannot dual task, even with extensive practice

Question 15

What is the difference between function-enabling and function-disabling recovery?

Answer 15

• Function-Enabling- Associated w/ forced-use paradigms that improve motor function; i.e., Constraint-Induced Therapy
• Functional-Disabling; Changes associated w/ disuse that reduce motor capabilities and phantom limb sensation after amputation that is attributed to cortical reorganization and sensory-disabling plasticity

Question 16

Resolution of temporary changes; Recovery of NS tissue; Nearby neural tissues take over identical neural functions of damaged tissues

Answer 16

restorative (direct) recovery

Question 17

What are the 8 principles of experience-dependent plasticity?

Answer 17

1. Use it or lose it
2. Use it and improve it
3. Specificity
4. Repitition matters
5. intensity matters
6. time matters
7. salience matters
8. Age matters
9. Transference
10. Interference - plasticity in response to one experience can interfere with acquisition of other behaviors