Plasticity and functional recovery of the brain after trauma

Question 1

Define plasticity

Answer 1

This describes the brain’s tendency to change and adapt as a result of experience and new learning

Question 2

Define synaptic pruning

Answer 2

As we age, rarely used connections within the brain are deleted and frequently used connections are strengthened

Question 3

Define functional recovery

Answer 3

A form of plasticity. Following damage through trauma, the brain’s ability to redistribute or transfer functions usually performed by a damaged area to another undamaged area

Question 4

explain Research into plasticity

Answer 4

Maguire et al studied the brains of London taxi drivers and found significantly more volume of grey matter in the posterior hippocampus than in a matched control group. This part of the brain is associated with the development of spatial and navigational skills. As part of their training, London cabbies must take a complex test called ‘The Knowledge’ , which asses their recall of city streets and possible routes. It appears that the result of this learning experience is to alter the structure of the taxi drivers’ brains. Also the longer that they had been in the job, the more pronounced was the structural difference

Question 5

What happens in the brain during recovery?

Answer 5

The brain is able to rewire and reorganise itself by forming new synaptic connections close to the damaged area. Secondary neural pathways that would not typically be used to carry out certain functions are activated or ‘unmasked’ to enable functioning to continue, often in the same way as before. This process is supported by a number of structural changes in the brain including : Axonal sprouting , reformation of blood vessels and recruitment of homologous areas

Question 6

explain axonal sprouting , reformation of blood vessels and recruitment of homologous areas

Answer 6

axonal sprouting : the growth of new nerve endings which connect with other undamaged nerve cells to form new neural pathways
reformation of blood vessels
recruitment of homologous areas on the opposite sides of the brain to perform specific tasks. After a period of time, functionality may then shift back to the damaged side.