Brain Plasticity and functional recover

what is meant by plasticity of the brain?

the brains ability to adapt or change as a result of certain experience

What happens to synaptic connections as we age?

• at age 2-3 we have the most connections well ever have (15,000)

• as we age the unused connections are deleted and the used connections are strengthened

What is the process where old connections die and used connections are strengthened called?

cognitive pruning

What is spontaneous recovery?

when (usually after a trauma) unaffected areas of the body adapt to compensate for the damaged areas

What happens neurologically during recovery after a trauma?

the brain is rewired and reorganised by the formation of new synaptic connections close to the area of damage —> secondary neural pathways allow functions to continue

Whats the process of a functional recovery?

1. Axon Sprouting —> new nerve endings forming

2. Reformation of blood vessels

3. Recruitment of homologous areas on opposite hemisphere to do specific tasks

Whats a double strength para for research support of brain plasticity?

+ Study support in Maguire

• found brains of London black cab drivers has significant more grey area in the poster hippocampal than a control group

• all black cab drivers have to take “The Knowledge” which can take years to revise for

• this supports the role of brains ability to adapt and change based on experience

+ Supporting study in Bezzola

• found reduces motor cortex functioning in pets aged 40-60 who had done 40 hours of golf training

• this is proof of brain plasticity

Whats a single evaluation support for explanations for functional recovery?

• RWA

• therapies to help with neural reorganisation such as mirror therapy to treat phantom limb syndrome

• suggests theory of FR can be used IRL to reorganise synaptic connections and improve everyday life