Brain plasticity and Brain Injury

What is neuroplasticity?

The ability of the brain to change its structure or function in response to experience or environmental stimulation.

What is developmental plasticity?

Changes in the brain that occur in response to ageing and maturation.

What is adaptive plasticity?

-The brain’s ability to restore adequate neural functioning overtime after sustaining injury.

-Can occur throughout whole lifespan but is more efficient in younger people due to high levels of developmental plasticity.

What are the three key processes that undermine developmental plasticity?

Synaptogenesis, synaptic pruning, myelination.

What is synaptogenesis?

The formation of synapses between neurons as axon terminals and dendrites grow.

What is synaptic pruning?

The elimination of underused synapses.

What is myelination?

The formation and development of myelin around the axon.

What is brain trauma?

Damage to the brain that is caused by an external force.

What are the two key processes of adaptive plasticity?

Rerouting and sprouting.

What is sprouting?

A neuron’s ability to develop new branches on the dendrites or axons.

What is rerouting?

A neuron’s ability to form a new connection with another undamaged neuron.

How can you maximise and maintain brain function?

Mental stimulation, diet, physical activity, social support.

Brain trauma to what specific regions?

Hippocampus, amygdala, neocortex, basal ganglia, cerebellum.

What does mental stimulation do?

-Stimulates new neural connections and build up a resistance to future cell loss.

-Strengthens and prevents synaptic pruning of needed neuronal connections.

What does dieting do?

-Leafy greens are rich in ’brain-wealthy’ nutrients, such as vitamin K, which helps slow cognitive decline.

What does physical activity do?

-Forces all of the body’s physiological systems and brain areas to communicate much more closely than usual.

-Increases blood supply to the brain and promotes the growth of new neurons in the hippocampus.

What does social support do?

-Having someone to listen to you is associated with having greater resistance to brain damage.

-Interacting with people of similar interests reduces loneliness which in turn decreases the risk of cognitive decline.

What is an acquired brain injury?

Refers to all types of brain injuries that occur after birth.

-The two types are traumatic brain injury or non-traumatic brain injury.

What is non- traumatic brain injury?

Damage to the brain caused by internal factors, such as a lack of oxygen due to a tumor.

How can biological functioning be observed?

Changes in: behaviour, organ function, cellular and neuronal functioning.

What impact does biological functioning have?

Seizures, movement impairment, smell impairment.

How can psychological functioning be observed?

Cognition, behaviour, emotion.

What impact does psychological functioning have?

Through changes of: memory loss, personality changes, increased susceptibility to mental health disorders.

How can social functioning be observed?

Relationships, interactions with the environment, interpersonal skills.

What are social functioning impacts?

Job productivity, social support, anti-social behaviour.

What is the amygdala?

-Prominent role in mediating many aspects of emotional learning and behaviour.

What is the neocortex?

-Higher cognitive functioning.

-Neocortex is comprised of four lobes.

-Responsible for the neuronal computations of attention, thought, perception and episodic memory.

What is the basal ganglia?

-A group of structures near the centre of your brain that forms important connections, allowing for different parts of your brain to work together.

-Manages the signals from your brain that help you move your muscles.

What is aphasia?

An acquired language disorder that results from damage to one of the language centres of the brain.

What is wernicke’s aphasia?

Characterised by trouble comprehending speech and producing meaningful sentences.

What is broca’s aphasia?

Characterised by a person being able to understand speech but having trouble producing fluent speech.

What is CTE?

A progressive and fatal brain disease associated with repeated concussion.

What are concussions?

A mild traumatic brain injury that temporarily disrupts brain function.

What is a neurodegenerative disease?

-Characterised by the progressive loss of neurons in the brain.

-Gradually becomes worse until it becomes fatal.

What are the stage 1 symptoms of CTE?

Headaches, loss of attention and concentration.

What are stage 2 symptoms (mild)?

Depression, mood swings, short-term memory.

What are stage 3 symptoms (moderate)?

Memory loss, difficulties with concentration and attention, executive dysfunction.

What are stage 4 symptoms (severe)?

Dementia, profound loss of attention and concentration and language difficulties.

What is post-mortem examination of CTE?

-After death.

What areas does p-tau protein fill?

Brain-stem, cerebral cortex (frontal and temporal lobe), hippocampus.

What does accumulation of p-tau protein do?

Creates neurofibrillary tangles that are insoluble tangles within neurons which prevent the transportation of essential substances and eventually kill the neuron entirely.

How can we prevent CTE?

-No cure.

-Educational and behavioral therapies have been effective in preventing and treating persistent post-concussion symptoms.

-Sporting regulations- the use of helmets, protocols.

What are the symptoms of impact to the neocortex?

Inability to perform cognitive functions depending on the region of functioning.

What are the symptoms of damage to the basal ganglia?

Inability to move muscles well.

What are symptoms of damage to the cerebellum?

Inability to consolidate procedural memories.

What are the symptoms of damage to the amygdala?

Inability to consolidate emotional component of long-term memories.

What are the symptoms of damage to the hippocampus?

Inability to consolidate new long-term memories.