Natural Brain Plasticity and the Integrated Brain

Brain Plasticity

The brain's ability to adapt and change neural connections based on experience.

Synaptic Plasticity

The adaptability/changeability of neural connections

Long Term Potentiation (LTP)

Strengthening of synaptic connections due to repeated activation

Long Term Depression (LTD)

Weakening of synaptic connections, making the post-synaptic neuron less sensitive = less likely to fire

Neurogenesis

The generation of new neurons, primarily in the Hippocampus and olfactory bulb.

Brain Rehabilitation

recover some function after brain damage due to LTP and LTD = surviving neurons adapt = increase connections between healthy brain regions to weaken/remove connections to damaged regions = compensating for lost regions

Functional Connectivity

The integration and relationship between different brain regions to understand how they perform complex functions.

Motor Control

Requires the integration of information from different brain regions specialized for different functions, like sensory input and motor actions.

Emotion

Involves patterns of physiological response and species-typical behaviors, including subjective feelings and evolutionary significance. emotional responses have 3 components = behavioural, autonomic and hormonal

Emotional responses - Behavioural

Muscular changes appropriate to the situation

• e.g. dog defending territory by adopting aggressive posture

Emotional responses - Autonomic

Physiological changes induced by the autonomic nervous system facilitate behavioral responses

• e.g. dog defending territory = activity of sympathetic NS increases and parasympathetic NS decreases

Emotional responses - Hormonal

Reinforce autonomic changes by secreting hormones such as adrenaline.

Amygdala

Coordinating emotional responses and sending appropriate signals to the autonomic and hormonal systems.

The “lie detector” (polygraph)

A device that measures physiological responses associated with activity of the autonomic nervous system to determine truthfulness.

Consciousness

The subjective/conscious experience of the mind and how it is supported by brain activity, remains a mystery.