Plasticity

• Neuroplasticity - how the brain changes over time as a result of environmental influences, as experiences reorganise pathways in the brain.
• Plasticity Davidson - Meditation

  Found that Tibetan monks that were meditating had an increase of gamma waves in their brain
• Synaptic pruning - elimination of synapses that are no longer being used
• Synaptic branching - increase in creation of new synapses and connections
• Plasticity Maguire - Taxi drivers

  Found that London taxi drivers have enlarged hippocampus, with increased grey matter compared to those in the control group. This is due to the hippocampus being associated with navigation abilities
• Plasticity Kempermann - Rats

  Rats were kept in two conditions, either in a simple room or in a complex maze. Those in the maze had larger and more active hippocampus
• Plasticity Kuhn - Video Games

  Found that playing 30 minutes of Super Mario led to an increase in grey matter in certain parts of the brain including the hippocampus and cerebellum compared to controls
• Plasticity Boyke

  Found an increase in activity in the visual cortex when 60 year olds were learning to juggle, this reversed when they stopped practicing
• Plasticity AO3. There is no countering evidence for neuroplasticity. At present there is no evidence against brain plasticity, indicating that the theory is valid as no cases have proven otherwise.