Brain Plasticity

Synaptic Plasticity

The adaptability/changeability of neural connections

Synaptic Plasticity: effect on existing synapses

can be strengthened or weakened.

Synaptic Plasticity: existing synapses

Existing synapses can shrink or be removed.

Long Term Potentiation (LTP)

The process where repeated activation at one synapse strengthens the synaptic connection

LTP: effect on post-synaptic neuron

makes the post-synaptic neuron more 'sensitive' to neurotransmitter release and more likely to reach activation threshold.

LTP: result on neural signal transmission

It enables faster neural signal transmission.

LTP: Hebb Rule

"neurons that fire together wire together"

Long Term Depression (LTD)

The process opposite to LTP, involving weakening of synaptic connections.

LTD: effects on the post-synaptic neuron

It makes the neuron less sensitive to neurotransmitter release and less likely to fire in response.

LTD: what happens if neural networks aren't sufficiently stimulated

It can lead to fading memories and loss of skills.

LTP and LTD allow...

brain to adapt to current needs

Neurogenesis

The process through which new neurons are generated

Neurogenesis occurrence in brain

hippocampus (consolidation of LTM) and olfactory bulb (odour/smell)

Brain Rehabilitation: LTP

surviving neurons adapt by increasing connections between healthy brain regions.

Brain Rehabilitation: LTD

connections with damaged areas are weakened or removed.

Brain Rehabilitation: Improving function

increasing connections between healthy brain regions and weakening connections with damaged areas.

Brain Rehabilitation: Bad News

neurogenesis doesn't occur in all brain regions, sustained impairment after stroke or brain injury, neurons destroyed aren't typically replaced and function will remain impaired

Brain Rehabilitation: Good News

LTP + LTD allow neurons to adapt (increasing connections between healthy brain regions), improved function and allows brain to compensate for lost functioning

Functional Connectivity

Understanding how different parts of the brain work together to perform complex functions and individual functions of brain regions.

Motor Control

brain integrates information from specialised regions to execute appropriate motor actions quickly, considering relevant sensory cues and maintaining balance.

Emotion

Patterns of physiological response and species-typical behaviors, accompanied by feelings in humans, serving as powerful motivators with evolutionary significance

Purpose of Emotional Responses

modify a person's experience and behaviour in a way that is appropriate for the context

Emotional Responses

Involving behavioral, autonomic, and hormonal components, shaping subjective feelings of emotion, with the amygdala playing a key role in coordinating responses.

Emotional Response: Behavioural

muscular changes that are appropriate to situation that elicits them

Emotional Response: Autonomic

physiological changes induced by ANS facilitate behaviour responses

Emotional Response: Hormonal

when body hormones reinforce autonomic changes (e.g adrenaline secretion)

Effect of adrenaline

further increase blood flow to muscles and cause nutrients stored in muscles to be converted into glucose

Lie Detector (Polygraph)

A tool using emotional reactions to questions to assess the 'truthfulness' of answers by measuring physiological responses associated with autonomic nervous system activity

Emotional Response: Integration

Amygdala plays role in coordinating emotional response and sending appropriate signals to autonomic and hormonal responses