Plasticity and functional recovery

• What does plasticity refer to in the context of the brain?

  Neurological changes due to learning and experience
• How has recent research changed the understanding of brain plasticity?

  Mature brains continue to show plasticity as a result of learning
• What analogy is used to describe the process of practicing a skill in relation to brain plasticity?

  It is like taking your brain to the gym
• What happens to the relevant part of the brain when a skill is practiced?

  It gets stronger and may change shape
• What occurs to neural pathways that are not used often?

  They become weak and eventually die
• What are the key points about the plasticity of the brain?

  • Plasticity involves neurological changes due to learning.
  • Mature brains show plasticity from learning experiences.
  • Practicing skills strengthens relevant brain areas.
  • Unused neural pathways weaken and can die.
• What evidence supports the theory of brain plasticity?

  Maguire et al's study comparing taxi drivers and non-taxi drivers
• What did Maguire et al find about the hippocampus of taxi drivers?

  Taxi drivers had a larger posterior hippocampus
• What does the difference in hippocampus size suggest about taxi drivers?

  It suggests that their brains developed differently due to spatial navigation experiences
• What is a limitation of Maguire's study on brain plasticity?

  It had a limited sample of only 16 taxi drivers
• Why is it difficult to generalize the findings of Maguire's study?

  Because of the small sample size
• What is functional recovery in the brain?

  • It refers to brain functions moving from a damaged site to an undamaged site.
  • Observed in stroke victims who lost brain functions.
  • The brain can re-wire itself to recover lost functions.
• How do neurons contribute to functional recovery after brain damage?

  Neurons next to damaged sites can take over lost functions
• What are dormant synapses in the context of functional recovery?

  Neural connections that have no function until activated
• What happens to dormant synapses after brain damage?

  They can become activated to take over lost functions
• What are the strengths and limitations of functional recovery?

  Strengths:

  • Leads to applications in neurorehabilitation.
  • Example: constraint-induced movement therapy.

  
  

  Limitations:

  • Individual differences affect recovery extent.
  • Age, gender, and education influence recovery.
• What is an example of a neurorehabilitation technique related to functional recovery?

  Constraint-induced movement therapy
• How does age affect functional recovery after brain trauma?

  Younger individuals are more likely to recover than older individuals
• What did Marquez find regarding age and recovery from brain trauma?

  Older patients regained less function than younger patients
• How does gender influence functional recovery from brain injury?

  Women tend to recover better due to less lateralization
• What did Schneider find about education and recovery from brain injury?

  More time spent in education increases chances of a disability-free recovery
• What factors influence the extent of functional recovery?

  • Age: Younger individuals recover better.
  • Gender: Women recover better due to less lateralization.
  • Education: More education leads to better recovery outcomes.