Functional recovery

Functional recovery

The brain’s ability to redistribute or transfer functions usually performed by a damaged area to other, undamaged areas of the brain. Form of plasticity

Axonal sprouting

The growth of new nerve endings which connect to other undamaged nerve cells to form new pathways.

Denervation supersensitivity.

When axons that do a similar job become aroused to a higher level to compensate for the lost ones.

Can come at the consequence of oversensitivity to messages like pain.

Recruitment of homologous areas on the opposite side of the brain

Specific tasks can still be performed

E.g. Broca’s area. If it is damaged on the left side of the brain, the right-sided equivalent might carry out its functions.

After some time, functionality may shift back to the left side.

Neuronal unmasking

The brain forms new synaptic connections so it rewires and reorganises itself.

Secondary neural pathways where dormant synapses have not received enough input to be active are reactivated to allow functioning to continue and new structures to be developed.

Connections are opened to areas of the brain that are not normally active

Neurogenesis

New neurons are grown

S Danelli

W Danelli

E.B had a surgery to remove a benign tumour. Left with no LH.

Had no linguistic abilities and it seems that the language localisation is in the LH.

After intensive rehabilitation, language abilities improved and there were no reported problems by age 8

Functioning linguistically well at age 17 but had minor grammatical problems.

Suggests that functional recovery works.

Case study so hard to generalise

Language abilities never fully recovered.

S Practical applications

Knowledge that spontaneous recovery can happen quickly after trauma and then slows down after some weeks can be useful to rehabilitation.

Therapy may need to be adapted as a result of this.

Research investigating brain damage has allowed therapy to target areas that can recover.

Suggests that research into FR is useful as it helps medical professionals deliver successful interventions.

W Schneider

The more education you receive, the better your brain will recover after trauma. You build up a cognitive reserve.

40% of subjects he studied had a disability-free recovery from trauma if they had more than 16 years in education

10% had a disability-free recovery if they had less than 12 years education.

Implies that those who have an insufficient cognitive reserve are less likely to recover fully.