PLASTICITY & FUNCTIONAL RECOVERY

• What is brain plasticity?


  The brain's ability to change and adapt because of experience.

  The brain continues to make neural pathways and alter existing ones in response to changing experiences.
• What is synaptic pruning?


  Between the ages of 2-3 the brain experiences its most rapid growth in the number of synaptic connections.

  As we age the rarely used connections are deleted/dormant and those regularly used are strengthened.
• what is a key study to support plasticity?


  Maguire et al -London taxi drivers

  MRI scans found significantly more grey matter in the posterior hippocampus.

  Found a positive correlation between time in the job and the pronounced structural difference.

  Shows the brain can permanently change in response to frequent exposure of a task.
• What is devernation supersensitivity?


  That axons that do a similar job become aroused to a higher level to compensate.

  The transfer of functions from a damaged area of the brain after trauma to other undamaged areas.

  Allows brain to adapt or repair.
• What is neuronal unmasking?


  Dormant synapses (which have not received enough input to be active) open connections to compensate for a nearby damaged area of the brain.

  Stimulated recovery can occur.
• What is axon sprouting?


  New nerve endings connect with undamaged cells.

  allows new connections in the brain to be activated - or the brain to continue to use the secondary neural pathways.