Neuroplasticity

• Neuroplasticity is the nervous system's ability to change its structure and function as a result of experience and in response to injury
• Synaptogenesis is the forming of new synaptic connections
• Synaptogenesis occurs most during early brain development
• Neurogenesis is the production of new neurons during early development
• Synaptic pruning

  Extra, weak or unused synaptic connections are removed in order to retain new information
• Myelination is the process of myelin sheaths coating the neuons' axons to protect and insulate neurons to aid the transmission of impulses
• Sprouting

  Growth of new bushier dendrites to make new synaptic connections
• Rerouting

  Undamaged neuron has lost connection with an active neuron, so it seeks a new active neruon to connect to
• Acquired brain injury (ABI) is brain damage caused by events after birth that affects the functional ability of the brain's nerve cells
• When a person has an ABI, a portion of their brain cells is destroyed or deteriorates
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

  External force damages brain cells and causes dysfunction
• Non-traumatic brain injury (NTBI)

  Internal factors damage brain cells and cause dysfunction
• TBI

  Fall/accident

  Assault

  Sports injury
• Adaptive plasticity is the ability of neurons to alter their connections between synapses when learning something new or relearning after brain injury
• NTBI

  Stroke

  Tumor

  Infection
• Developmental plasticity refers to how our neural pathways change as we develop
• Neural migration is the movement of newly formed neurons to their final destination, which determines the neurons function
• Neural migration is neurons extending their axons and growing dendrities to form synapses
• Biological symptoms of ABI

  • Headaches
  • Sleep disturbances
• Psychological symptoms of ABI

  • Difficulty processing information
  • Increased anxiety
• Social symptoms of ABI

  • Lack of self-awareness