Plasticity and functional recovery

Question 1

What is the definition of plasticity

Answer 1

The ability of the brain to change/adapt its functionality and or physically as a result pf experience and new learning

Question 2

what happens during infancy and early childhood (2-3 years)

Answer 2

The brain has approximately 15,000 synaptic connections, twice as many as the average adult.

Question 3

what happens in synaptic pruning

Answer 3

the neural pathways that are used are strengthened while the pathways that are not used are lost in synaptic pruning.

Question 4

What does new research suggest

Answer 4

the brain continues to create new nueral pathways and alter exiting ones through life

Question 5

what does the new research show

Answer 5

the brain is in a continual state of changing from growth to change and refinement in adult hood as a result of learning and new experinces

Question 6

How can plasticity be negative

Answer 6

• Prolonged drug, alcohol and smoking lead to poorer cognitive functions
• old age associated with dementia
• all due to changes in the brain

Question 7

What is the PEE of Draganski’s research

Answer 7

P- further support for plasticity
E-He imaged the brains of medicle students three months before exams and three months after exams
E- This supports plastocity as there learning induced changes in the posterior hippocampus and parietal cortex as a result of learning for the exam

Question 8

what is the PEE of maquire et al

Answer 8

P-There is research to support plasticity
E-Maquiere et al studied the brains of london taxi drivers using FRMI. The taxi drivers accessed on city streets and routes. Their brains were compared with a control group, which showed the taxi drivers having a bigger hippocampus.
E-this supports plasticity because as experience and learning of streets and routes increases the grey matter in the hippocampus

Question 8

what is functional recovery a specific example of

Answer 8

neuroplasticity

Question 9

what happens in functional recovery

Answer 9

its where unaffected areas are able to adapt or compensate for areas that have become damaged through physical injury, infection or trauma like strokes.

Question 10

what is spontaneous recovery

Answer 10

when the brain is able to compensate fpr damage after trauma.

Question 11

what are the three things that happen in the brain during recovery

Answer 11

1. Axonal sprouting
2. Denervation supersensivity
3. recruitment of the homologus areas

Question 12

what is axonal sprouting

Answer 12

growth of new nerve endings which connect