plasticity

• what is the definition of plasticity?

  Plasticity refers to the brain's ability to modify its own structure and function as a result of experience
• what happens to nerve pathways As people gain experience?

   

  • nerve pathways that are used frequently develop stronger connections , 
  • ones that are rarely of never used are dissolved (known as synaptic pruning) 
  • new pathways can be formed 
• how did kuhn show support for plasticity in his video games research?

  • He trained a group for 30 mins each day for 2 months on super mario
  • compared them with a control group
  • they had increased grey matter in multiple areas like hippocampus and cerebellum 
  • Video game training had resulted in new synaptic connections in brain areas involved in spatial navigation strategic planning, motor skills
• what is functional recovery?

  Functional recovery is moving functions from a damaged region of the brain to an undamaged region after a trauma  
• functions of Stem cells (unspecialised cell) in functional recovery?


  • stem cells implanted in the brain could directly replace dead or dying cells
  • they could also secrete growth factors which rescue dying cells
  • implanted cells form a neural network which link to an uninjured brain site where new stem cells are made in the damaged region of the brain 
• role of Neural unmasking in functional recovery?

  • Wall (1977) noticed the brain contained ‘dormant synapses’ – neural connections which have no function.
  • However, when brain damage occurs, these synapses can become activated
  • opening connections to regions of the brain which are normally activated and take over the neural function that has been lost due to damage
• role of Homologous brain adaptation in functional recovery?

   if one brain hemisphere is damaged, the intact hemisphere can sometimes take over some of the functions of the damaged one. Grafman (2000)

  In homologous area adaptation, brain-behaviour becomes active in the equivalent part on the opposite side of the brain from where it usually occurs