functional recovery

• functional recovery:

  a type of plasticity when the brain adapts after trauma e.g., a stroke. Ability the brain has to redistribute/transfer functions from a damaged area of the brain to an undamaged area of the brain.
• case study - Jodie Miller:

  -had her right hemisphere removed at 3y/o because of extreme epileptic seizures-left hemisphere adopted the functions of the right hemisphere
• neuronal unmasking:

  neurons around the damaged neurons become active & take on functions of the damaged neurons.
• axonal sprouting:

  new growth from axons to connect with other neurons. Undamaged cells reform the damaged neural pathways.
• denervation sensitivity:

  undamaged axons become more sensitive & active. Compensate for the loss of function. Can be negative e.g., very sensitive to pain.
• recruitment of homologous (similar) areas:

  both hemispheres are similar, one hemisphere compensates for damage in the other.
• Strength:

  -research support: Jodie Miller - LH adapted functions of RH. D: Jodie = 3 (when brain is most plastic) - might not look the same in older people. But, validates the theory.

  -RWA: FR = fast after trauma, introduced rehabilitation e.g., movement therapy. D: economic implications - if people rehabilitate, they can go to work = money to economy. Use.

  Weakness:

  -individual differences. Scheider et al (2014) longer person with brain injury is in education, more likely to have disability-free recovery. D: age & gender influence recovery. Limited explanation, little population val.