Plasticity and Functional Recovery

• Define plasticity.


  Brain's tendency to change and adapt (functionally and physically) as a result of experience and new learning.

  
• Synaptic pruning.


  As we age, rarely used connections are deleted and frequently used connections are strengthened.

  
• Axonal sprouting.


  Undamaged axons grow new nerve endings to reconnect neurons whose links were injured or severed.

  
• Recruitment of homologous areas.


  Regions on opposite sides of the brain take on functions of damaged areas.

  
• Functional recovery.


  Form of plasticity. Following damage through trauma, the brain's ability to redistribute/transfer functions performed by damaged areas to other, undamaged areas.

  
• Neural plasticity.


  Describes the brain's tendency to change and adapt - functionally and physically - resulting from experience and new learning.

  
• What is Plasticity?


  - Brain's ability to change and adapt to experience

  - Nerve pathways used frequently develop stronger connections, rarely sued neutrons die
• What is Functional Recovery?


  - Recovery of abilities and compromised mental processes as result of brain injury/disease