Neuro Rehab neuroplasticity

neuroplasticity

the lifelong ability of the brain to reorganize pathways based on new experiences; includes the ability of neurons to change their function, chemical profile, and/or new structure

learn

plasticity contributes to the brain's ability to _________ new information, change in response to environmental stimulation/experience, and recover from injury

experience

plasticity contributes to the brain's ability to learn new information, change in response to environmental stimulation/____________, and recover from injury

recover

plasticity contributes to the brain's ability to learn new information, change in response to environmental stimulation/experience, and ____________ from injury

developmental

____________ plasticity

🡆early years involve rapid brain growth and neuron development

🡆remodeling through neurogenesis & apoptosis causes structural change

critical

_____________ period: a time when an organism is extremely sensitive to environmental influences or stimulation - effortless learning, just through exposure

🡆begins/ends abruptly

🡆period beyond which a phenomenon will not appear

sensitive

_____________ period: similar but not as rigid as a critical period

🡆begins and ends gradually

🡆period of maximal sensitivity

nucleus basalis

part of the brain associated with effortless learning in the critical period

🡆once it's no longer on for a critical period, it can only be activated when something is important, surprising, or novel, or we make an effort to pay close attention to it

homonculus

organization of the cortex (sensory & motor) - training & experience affects change in these cortical maps

long term potentiation/LTP

__________________ ____________ ____________: make potent/powerful - more excitable, promotes growth of synapses/dendrites; strong signal, representation in the brain = memory (neurons that fire together wire together)

long term depression/LTD

_________ _________ ____________: reduction in activity = synaptic pruning, dying back = forgetting? (use it or lose it)

unmasking

_____________ of silent synapses: LTP activates dormant ampa receptors in the neurons, increasing their activity and excitability

long term potentiation/LTP

unmasking of silent synapses occurs because of LTP/LTD

synaptogenesis

structural changes in the neuron itself - creating new dendrites & axons, more ion channels and neurotransmitters; results in changes in grey matter

brain derived neurotrophic factor/BDNF

like brain fertilizer for neurons; consolidates connections between neurons and promotes the growth of myelin on those neurons

🡆strengthening neural connections allows them to fire more reliably together in the future

activity

BDNF regulation is ____________-dependent - both physical and mental

🡆exercise elevates levels of neurotrophic factors

🡆buffers against illness or injury - neuroprotective

🡆prompts neurons to grow following injury - neurorestorative

🡆strengthens connections between neurons

vulnerability

_____________ associated with plasticity

🡆need for enriched environment: repetitive, unskilled, random movements do not produce change in cortical representation

🡆trained movements may expand their representation at the expense of others

use it or lose it

plasticity principle #1: _________ ______ _____ __________ _____

🡆long term depression

🡆neural circuits not actively engaged degrade over time

🡆learned nonuse

🡆compensation vs functional recovery

🡆independent vs quality of performance

use it to improve it

plasticity principle #2: _____ ______ _____ ______________ ______

🡆long term potentiation

🡆plasticity can be induced through extended training

age

plasticity principle #3: _______ matters

🡆critical/sensitive periods

🡆vulnerabilities at young & old ages

🡆consider in prognosis

time

plasticity principle #4: _________ matters

🡆natural recovery trajectory

🡆acute vs chronic considerations - too early vs too late

intensity

plasticity principle #5: ____________ matters:

🡆low intensity stimulation associated with LTD, high intensity associated with LTP

🡆aerobic exercise increases BDNF

🡆intensity is more than just heart rate/RPE

🡆cognitive, balance, accuracy, coordination challenges

🡆stress the system - releases hormones, dopamine in response, hard-won success is rewarding - motivation, persistence

repetition

plasticity principle #6: _____________ matters

🡆many trials are needed to induce lasting neural change and not just brainless repetition

salience

plasticity principle #7: _____________

🡆practice must be functionally relevant and meaningful

🡆consider whole task training, providing feedback

🡆importance of motivation and engagement

specificity

plasticity principle #8: _______________

🡆neural changes are specific to the tasks performed

🡆skill training induces cortical change and synaptogenesis

🡆strength training alters spinal motor neuron excitability

🡆endurance training induces angiogenesis

transference

plasticity principle #9: ________________

🡆plasticity within one set of neural circuits promotes subsequent plasticity in others

🡆practice highest level tasks - reverse transfer back down to lower level tasks but not vice versa

interference

plasticity principle #10: ______________

🡆plasticity of a given pathway may impede existing neural circuits.

🡆compensations interfere with rehab

🡆skill training of ipsilateral paw decreases performance on contralateral paw

🡆spinalized rats training in reaching improve reaching but decrease ladder climbing

🡆balance vs gait training