Plasticity and functional recovery of the brain after trauma

Plasticity:

The brain’s ability to adapt and change depending on new experiences. There are double the amount of synaptic connections in infancy compared to adulthood. As we age, rarely-used connections are deleted and frequently-used are strengthened (synaptic pruning).

Maguire:

The brains of London taxi drivers had more grey volume in their hippocampus than control group. The longer they had been a driver the more pronounced the structural difference was.

Axonal sprouting:

Growth of new nerve endings which connect with undamaged nerve cells to form new neural pathways

Denervation supersensitivity:

Axons become aroused to a higher level to make up for the lost ones. However, can result is oversensitivity.

Recruitment of homologous areas:

Similar areas on the opposite side of the brain are recruited it there is damage, after functionality is restored, it returns to main area.

Real-world application

Increased understanding has led to increase in neurorehabilitation, this can be movement therapy after a stroke (functional recovery).

Research support

Bezzola found 40 hours of golf training in 40-60 yr old people increased motor cortex activity in their brain, showing brain plasticity does adapt through life

Negative consequences of plasticity

60-80% of amputees have phantom limb syndrome (continuous pain from the lost limb as if it were there). This is due to cortical reorganisation.