plasticity and functional recovery Flashcards
define plasticity
describes the brains tendency to change and adapt as a result of experiences and new learning. involves the growth of new connections
define functional recovery
form of plasticity. The brains ability to redistribute or transfer functions usually performed by a damaged area.
what are synaptic connection
as we age some connections are removed and some are strengthen through synaptic pruning.
what did Maguire et al study
looked at grey matter in the posterior hippocampus in London taxi drivers than a control group.
what did Maguire et al find.
knowledge of city street and overall learning altered the structured differenced. Bigger grey matter
what is the hippocampus linked to
spatial and navigational skills
what is functional recovery a good example of/
neural plasticity.
healthy brain areas take over functions of areas damaged.
when dose functional recovery happen
after spontaneous recovery.
brain rewires itself by forming new synaptic connections. - secondary neural pathways activated to help functioning continue.
what changes happen to the brain during recovery
Axonal sprouting
denervation supersensitivyt
recruitment of homologous
what is axon sprouting
growth of new nerf endings which connect other undamaged cells forming new neuronal pathways.
what is denervation super sensitivity
axons that do similar jobs become aroused to a higher level compensating for loss.
what is recruitment of homologous
areas on the opposite side of the brain to perform specific tasks.
