Brain Plasticity & Brain Injury

Flashcards covering the key vocabulary and definitions related to brain plasticity, brain injury, and neurological disorders discussed in the lecture.

Neuron

A nerve cell that transmits information through electrical and chemical signals.

Dendrites

Detect and receive information from other neurons and transmit it to the soma.

Soma (cell body)

Integrates neural information received and sends it to the axon.

Axon

Transmits neural information away from the soma to other neurons or cells.

Axon terminals

Contains terminal buttons which store and secrete neurotransmitters.

Myelin

Insulates the axon from the activity of other nearby axons.

Synapse

The point of communication between neurons, including the synaptic gap, terminal buttons, and dendrites.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical substances which pass information from neuron to neuron across the synapse.

Brain plasticity (Neuroplasticity)

The brain’s ability to change in response to experience or environmental stimulation.

Developmental plasticity

Changes in brain structure in response to aging, learning, and maturation

Adaptive plasticity

Changes in brain structure in response to a need to adapt (e.g., after brain trauma or injury).

Myelination

The growth and development of white, fatty myelin around axons.

Synaptogenesis

The formation of new synapses (connections) between the brain’s neurons.

Synaptic pruning

The process of eliminating synaptic connections based on experience ('use it or lose it').

Sprouting

The ability of a neuron to develop new branches on the dendrites or axons.

Rerouting

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

Brain trauma

Damage to the brain caused by an external force.

Acquired brain injury (ABI)

Brain damage that occurs after birth due to stroke, infection, accident, etc.

Mental Stimulation

An activity that activates neuronal connections and involves the processing of information.

Gut-brain axis (GBA)

The bidirectional connection between the gut and the brain through multiple parts of the nervous system.

Epilepsy

A neurological disorder associated with abnormal electrical activity in the brain and categorized by recurrent seizures.

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)

A progressive and fatal brain disease associated with repeated head injuries and concussions.

Neurological disorders

Diseases characterized by any damage to or malfunctioning of the nervous system.

Parkinson's disease

A progressive neurological disorder characterized by both motor and non-motor symptoms, involving degeneration of neurons in the substantia nigra.