Localisation of brain functions and brain plasticity

Definition of Brain Plasticity

Brain plasticity, also known as neuroplasticity, is the brain's ability to change and adapt as a result of experience and learning.

What happens in the brain during recovery?

Rewires and reorganizes itself, forming new synaptic connections. Includes axonal sprouting, blood vessel reformation, and recruitment of similar brain areas.

What is axonal sprouting?

Growth of new nerve endings connecting with undamaged cells to form new pathways.

Example of recovery evidence.

Gabby Giffords recovered well from a headshot, showing the brain's healing. Higher education linked to better recovery (Schneider et al., 2014).

Example of animal study evidence.

Hubel & Wiesel (1963): Sewing a kitten's eye shut showed the visual cortex processing info from the open eye.

Practical use of plasticity knowledge.

Aids neurorehabilitation: physical therapy techniques like movement therapy and brain stimulation.

Theoretical implications of plasticity.

Supports holistic theory over reductionist localisation of function.

What did recent research show about brain plasticity?

Neural connections can change at any time in life due to learning and experience, not just in childhood.

What did Maguire et al. (2000) find in taxi drivers' brains?

Taxi drivers had more grey matter in the posterior hippocampus, associated with spatial and navigational skills. Longer time as taxi drivers correlated with more structural differences.

What did Draganski et al. (2006) discover in medical students' brains?

Learning-induced changes were found in the posterior hippocampus and parietal cortex before and after final exams.

What happens in the brain after trauma?

The brain rewires and reorganizes itself, forming new synaptic connections near the damaged area. Involves axonal sprouting, blood vessel reformation, and recruitment of homologous areas.

What is functional recovery?

Functional recovery is the process by which the brain adapts after injury or illness, restoring lost functions by reorganizing and forming new connections.

Theoretical implications of plasticity.


Supports holistic theory over reductionist localisation of function.

What is axonal sprouting?

Growth of new nerve endings connecting with undamaged cells to form new pathways.

What does localisation theory suggest?

Certain areas of the brain are responsible for specific processes, behaviours, and activities.

What is the motor area responsible for?

Regulating and coordinating movements, found in the frontal lobe.

What is the function of the auditory area?

Processing auditory information and speech, located in the temporal lobe. Damage can cause hearing loss and Wernicke’s aphasia.

What is the visual area responsible for?

Processing visual information, located in the occipital lobe.

What does the somatosensory area do?

Processes sensory information like touch, heat, and pressure. Located in the parietal lobe.

What is Wernicke’s area responsible for?

Speech comprehension, located in the temporal lobe. Damage results in Wernicke’s aphasia, characterized by nonsensical speech.