Neuroplasticity

neuroplasticity

mechanism by which the brain encodes experience and learns new behaviors or relearns lost behaviors

specific mechanisms of neuroplasticity

gene expression, synapse formation, motor map reorganization

approaches to improving function after brain damage

limit severity of initial injury, reorganize brain to compensate for what has been lost

ischemic core

area of dead tissue that cannot heal

penumbra

area surrounding the ischemic core that can recover

components of brain reorganization following injury

automatic recovery, compensation, recovery through deliberate practice

how does brain damage interfere with neuroplasticity and learning

many parts of the brain are involved, so there is a larger chance that one of those parts will be injured which affects learning

principles of neuroplasticity

use it or lose it, use it to improve it, specificity, repetition, intensity, time, salience, age, transference, interference

evidence for use it or lose it principle

reduced neural response and representation in the area of deprivation

evidence for use it to improve it

practice increases neural representation and improves motor performance

example of specificity principle

practicing standing balance does not help with walking balance

how to incorporate the principle of repetition in a short PT session

super sets, decrease breaks, reps until fatigue/failure, increase reps as movement becomes more automatic

what is included in the intensity principle

amount of brain stimulation, cardiovascular, number of reps

how to balance intensity and specificity

higher intensity is more important than specificity because you want to make sure the pt has adequate reps to be able to improve, amount of specificity depends on goals

time considerations of neuroplasticity

memory consolidation takes time, start treatment early for better neuroprotection

salience

how important the goal is to the pt

effects of aging on the brain

reduce synaptogenesis, cortical map reorganization, neuronal atrophy, cognitive decline

neuroplasticity in older adults

change can still occur it just happens slower

proof of neuroplasticity in parkinsons

80% of neurons are lost at the time of symptom onset suggesting that there was compensation before

evidence for transference

stimulation also excites other areas not directly stimulated

interference

learning a new motor task interferes with consolidation of the first task so it must be relearned