Plasticity and functional recovery Flashcards
What is plasticity?
Plasticity is the brains ability to change an adapt as a result of damage, experiences and new learning
As we age rarely used connections are deleted and frequently used connections are strengthened
Synaptic pruning
Does extensive learning induce structural changes in the cortex of brains and are these changes long term or short term
Draganski 2006
What were the results of Draganski research
Significant research in grey matter of the posterior parietal cortex of the medical students during the exam period and remained
What was the aim of Maguire (2000) research
To find out if there was a difference in the brain scans of taxi drivers compared to a control group of non taxi drivers
What was the IV and DV of Maguires method?
IV= Taxi drivers or non taxi drivers
DV= MRI scans were taken, analysed and compared
What were the results of maguires research?
-Posterior hippocampal volume was bigger in taxi drivers
-Anterior hippocampal volume was bigger in the control group
-Amount of time spent as a taxi driver is positivley correlated with the volume of the postierior hippocampus
“Growth of new nerve endings which connect with undamaged nerve cells to form new neural pathways”
Axonal sprouting
What is functional recovery?
The transfer of functions from a damaged area of the brain after trauma, to other undamaged areas. Unadapted areas are able to adapt.
When may functional recovery occur?
After trauma
After a stroke
How can functional recovery be encouraged ?
Neurorehabilitation
