neuroplasticity

What is neuroplasticity

the basis for learning in the intact brain and relearning in the damaged brain that occurs through physical rehabilitation

define plasticity

the adaptive capacity of the nervous system

What are the 10 ingredients to neuroplasticity

use it or lose it

use it and improve it

specificity

repetition

intensity

time

salience

age

transference

interference

describe use it or lose it in neuroplasticity

neural circuits not actively engaged in task performance for an extended period off time begin to degrade

describe use it and improve it in neuroplasticity

training that drives a specific brain function can lead to an enhancement of that function

describe specificity in neuroplasticity

the nature of the training experience dictated the nature of the plasticity (do the actual activity you want to get better at)

describe repetition in neuroplasticity

repeating a newly learned (or relearned) behavior may be required to induce lasting neural changes

How many reps are required to make a change

thousands

describe intensity in neuroplasticity

induction of plasticity requires a sufficient training intensity

how do we measure intensity

HR and RPE

describe time in neuroplasticity

more effective when administered shortly after the injury

What happens if we wait too long to start rehab

have compensatory habits

describe salience in neuroplasticity

the pt must care about the goal/reason for task (motivation/attention)

describe age in neuroplasticity

the older you are, the slower the process (but still able to learn)

describe transference in neuroplasticity

plasticity within one set of neural circuits to promote concurrent or subsequent plasticity (being better at something else helps us accomplish a skill)

describe interference in neuroplasticity

the ability of plasticity within a given neural circuit to impede the induction of new plasticity of within the same circuit (baseball and golf)

What are the principles of neuroplasticity that we affect

specificity

repetition

intensity

salience

transference