Neuroplasticity

Video Lecture

  • Neuroplasticity: brain’s ability to reorganize & adapt by creating new neural connections. Foundational for learning & memory, injury recovery, & skill acquisition.

  • Habituation: the more prolonged exposure we have to a stimulus the less neural response

  • Sensitization: the more frequently we’re exposed to a stimulus the greater/faster the neural response

  • Hebbian plasticity: use it or lose it (ex: bilingualism)

  • Long term potentiation: long lasting increase in strength of synapse between neurons, triggered by high frequency of stimulation

  • Long term depression: long lasting decrease in strength of synapse between neurons due to infrequent stimulation

Motor Learning

  • Motor learning: process through which we acquire, refine, and retain motor skills through practice/experience

Phases of Motor Learning

  1. Cognitive stage

    1. high cognitive demand, frequent errors, fast gains

  2. Associative stage

    1. refining technique, reducing variability, beginning to detect own mistakes

  3. Autonomous stage

    1. movements are automatic, little conscious effort, multitasking

Brain regions involved w/ Motor Learning

  • sensorimotor areas sense info & plan movements

  • basal ganglia modulates motor output and interacts w motor cortex to select best action

  • cerebellum helps u maintain posture and adapt when conditions change

  • prefrontal cortex plans, makes decisions, manages attention & impulses

  • hippocampus helps us store patterns when begininning to learn