Neuroplasticity

what are the 10 components of neuroplasticity?

• use it or lose it

• use it and improve it

• specificity

• repetition

• intensity

• time

• salience

• age

• transference

• interference

use it or lose it

neural circuits not actively engaged in task performance for an extended period of time begin to degrade

use it and improve it

training that drives a specific brain function can lead to an enhancement of that function

specificity

the nature of the training experience dictates the nature of the plasticity

want to get better at ___, you should practice ___.

repetition

repetition of a newly learned (or relearned) behavior may be required to induce lasting neural changes

how many reps are required for a changing nervous system?

thousands

intensity

induction of plasticity requires sufficient training intensity

how can we measure intensity?

HR and RPE

time

the training was considerably more effective when administered shortly after the injury

salience

the training experience must be sufficiently salient to induce plasticity

age

neuroplastic responses are altered in the aged brain

transference

the ability of plasticity within one set of neural circuits to promote concurrent or subsequent plasticity

what is an example of transference?

working with pt on bed mobility and their standing/balance gets better

interference

the ability of plasticity within a given neural circuitry to impede the induction of new, or expression of existing, plasticity within that same circuitry

what is an example of interference?

playing golf while in softball season messes with your swing

which of the 10 components of neuroplasticity are we able to control?

• specificity

• repetition

• intensity

• salience

• transference