Plasticity and Functional Recovery

Question 1

what is neural plasticity

Answer 1

the ability of the brain to change and adapt its structuyres and processes as a result of exerpience and learning

Question 2

give research on plasticity in early stages of life

Answer 2

gopnik et al

• during infancy the brain experiences rapid growth, peaking at about 15,000 synaptic connections per neuron

Question 3

how are rarely used connections deleted and frequently used connections strengthened

Answer 3

synaptic pruning

Question 4

what is functional recovery

Answer 4

follwing ohysical injurty or other forms of trauma, unnafected areas of the brain adapt and compensate

Question 5

what are tghe processes the brain goes through during functional recopvery

Answer 5

• axonal sprouting
• reformation of blood vessels
• denervation supersensitivity
• recruitment of homologus areas

Question 6

explain the following process of functional recovery:

axonal sprouting

Answer 6

the growth of new neerve endings which connect to other undamaged nerve cells

Question 7

explain the following process of functional recovery:

reformation of blood vessels

Answer 7

provides oxygen which facilitates growth of nerw nueral pathways

Question 8

explain the following process of functional recovery:

denervation supersensitivity

Answer 8

axons that do a similiar job become aroused to a hugher level to compensate for ones lost

Question 9

explain the following process of functional recovery:

recruitment of homologus areas

Answer 9

areas on the opposite side of the brain are recruited to perform specfic tasks

Question 10

give research that supports neural plasticity

the main research

Answer 10

Maguire

• studied hippocampus of black cab taxi drivers compared to normal people
• found more volume of grey matter in the posterior hippocampus in taxi drivers than the control group
• the longer the taxi drivers had been working the greater structural difference there was
• this shows learning experienxces altered the taxi drivers brains

Question 11

give an extra piece of research that suports neural plasticity

Answer 11

• brain imaging of students before and after exams
• showed leaning induces changed in the posteriror hippocampus and parietal cortex

Question 12

give a study that supports functional recovery

Answer 12

Taijiri et al

• stem cells provided to rats after brain trauma led to neuron like cell development
• suggets brain damaga can be repaired

Question 13

evaluate functional recovery

strength

Answer 13

• p - supporting research
• eg - tajiri et al. stem cells given to rats after brain injury lead to neuron like cell development and aided brain damage
• ex - the stem cells intregrated into existing circuits, showing the brain cane rewire itself and restore lost functions after damage
• l - this makes the idea scientifically credible
• h - research done on rats. not generalisable due to brain differences

Question 14

evaluate plasticity

strength

Answer 14

• p - supporting evidence
• eg - Maguire, found more grey matter in posterior hippocamopus in taxi drivers than control which is responsible for spatial skills
• ex - the only differemce between the groups was their years navigating londons streets, suggesting intensive spacial experience can reshape brain structure
• l - adds scienitific credability to the concept of plasticity and guides practical programmes such as rehabilitatoin
• h - small sample sizes

Question 15

evaluate plasticity

limitation

Answer 15

• P - plasticity can produce negative outcomes
• Eg - ramachandran et al report phantom limb pain in 90% of amputees which is linked to rewiring of the somatosensory cortex
• Ex - the rewiring amplifies pain signals rather than restoring function
• L - shows plasticity is not inherintly beneficial and can complicate rehabilitation
• H - evidence relies on case reports and self reports whihc limits its generalisability

Question 16

evaluate functional recovery

limitation

Answer 16

• P - functional recovery is significantly reduced in older individuals
• Eg - patients aged 70 or above showed functional decline between 6 and 30 months post stroke whereas those younger than 70 maintained gains
• Ex - suggests neural repair machanisms like axonal sprouting are less effective with age
• L - indicates recovery protocols must be tailored by age, limiting one size fits all rehabilitation propgrammes
• H - this study had a small sample whihc reduces the strength of its conclusions