U1: Brain Plasticity and Injury

spatial neglect

a neuropsychological condition that occurs due to the right hemipshere after right middle cerebral artery stroke or other brain injury

synapses

reigon that includes the axon terminal of the presynaptic neuron, synaptic gap and dendrite of the poststnaptic neuron

synaptic pruning

elimination of underused synapses, occurs throughout lifespan, not as intense during adolecence and after infancy

experience- expectant plasticity

occurs naturally throughout development
eg. ageing and learning

experience- dependent plasticity

occurs in response to experience
eg. survival, brain trauma and injuries

damage to frontal lobe

may experience personality changes, difficulty concentrating or planning and impulsivity

damage to temporal lobe

distubance with selective attention to what is seen and heard, difficulty with identification and categorisation of objects, difficulty learning and reatining new info, impaired long term memory

wernicke's aphasia

condition resulting from damage to Wernicke's area, causing the person to be unable to understand or produce meaningful language

broca's aphasia

condition resulting from damage to Broca's area, causing the person to be unable to speak fluently

damage to parietal lobe

Numbness/ impaired sensation and difficulty during a simple task like getting dressed

damage to occipital lobe

difficulty locating objects in your environment, inability to recognise objects by sight

factors that influence neural plasticity

type of injury
area of damage
age
health conditions

biological impacts of acquired brain injury

-movement disorders
-dizziness and balance problems
-eyesight, hearing problems
-loss of taste and smell
-headaches
-chronic pain
-impaired speech, reading, writing
-fatigue and sleep problems
-hormonal imbalances

psychological impacts due to acquired brian injury

-memory problems
-difficulty problem-solving
-poor concerntration and attention
-reduced ability to organise and plan
-lack of initiative and motivation
- lack of insight and awareness, and poor judgement
-loss of self-esteem
-personality changes
-distress, anxiety, panic attacks
-mood distrubance
-slowed responses
-impulsive bahviour/ lack of emotional control

social impacts from acquired brain injury

-social isolation
-altered personal realtionships
-distrupted family relationships
-changes to living arrangements
-social role changes
-different vocatioal capabilities
-different educational opportunities
-financial hardship
-legal restrictions
-social stigma

examples of ABI

-stroke
-brain tumor
-alcohol/substance abuse
-infection and disease

CTE

chronic traumatic encepalopathy is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and fatal condition believed to be cause by repeated blows to the head and multiple episodes of concussions

symptoms of CTE

- loss of memory
- mood changes
-personality changes
-difficulty controlling impulsive or erratic behaviour
-increasing confusion and disorientation
-difficulty thinking
-motor impairments

how is it diagnosed

CTE can only be properly diagnosed in an autopsy