plasticity

• What is brain plasticity?

  The brain's ability to reorganize neural pathways
• What is synaptic pruning?

  Removing infrequently used synaptic connections
• Why is synaptic pruning essential?

  It increases brain network efficiency
• When does the brain experience rapid neural growth?

  During gestation and early infancy
• How many synaptic connections does a 2-3/4 year old have compared to an adult brain?

  Twice the synaptic connections
• When is synaptic pruning most prominent?

  During childhood and early adolescence
• What could excessive pruning lead to?

  Disorders like schizophrenia
• What could limited pruning result in?

  Disorders like epilepsy and autism
• What was the aim of Maguire et al.'s study?

  To examine structural changes in taxi drivers' brains
• What method did Maguire et al. use for their study?

  Structural MRI scans
• How many taxi drivers were scanned in Maguire et al.'s study?

  16 right-handed male taxi drivers
• What was found in the taxi drivers' brains compared to the control group?

  More grey matter in the hippocampi
• What correlation was found in Maguire et al.'s study?

  Between time spent as a taxi driver and grey matter volume
• What conclusion was drawn from Maguire et al.'s study?

  Structural changes support brain plasticity
• What did Draganski et al. study in medical students?

  Changes in grey matter before and after exams
• What was observed in medical students' brains after their final exam?

  Significant increase in grey matter
• What did Draganski et al. conclude about the changes in grey matter?

  They were due to intense learning
• How many volunteers participated in the juggler study?

  24 volunteers aged 20-24
• What was the result of the juggler study?

  Increased grey matter in the temporal area
• What happened to the grey matter difference after three months of no practice?

  The difference diminished
• What does functional recovery of the brain refer to?

  Restoration of lost cognitive/behavioral functions
• What is spontaneous recovery?

  Rapid initial recovery after brain damage
• What can cause trauma to the brain?

  Strokes, physical injury, and surgery
• What facilitates functional recovery?

  Neural mechanisms and brain changes
• What is neural unmasking?

  Activation of dormant synapses after damage
• What is axonal sprouting?

  Growth of new dendrites and axon terminals
• What does reformation of blood vessels facilitate?

  Transport of oxygen and nutrients for growth
• What is recruitment of homologous areas?

  Opposite hemisphere takes over lost functions
• How does age affect plasticity?

  Plasticity decreases with age
• What is denervation super sensitivity?

  Increased sensitivity of surrounding receptors
• What did Gezzola et al. find about plasticity in older adults?

  Golf training produced neural changes
• What is cognitive reserve?

  Level of intelligence before trauma
• What correlation did Schneider et al. find regarding education and recovery?

  More education linked to better recovery
• What is a practical application of neuroplasticity research?

  Contributes to neurorehabilitation methods
• What is constraint-induced movement therapy?


  Restraining unaffected body part to encourage recovery
• What is negative plasticity?

  Reorganization that has negative consequences
• How can chronic drug use affect the brain?

  Can lead to negative plasticity changes
• What percentage of amputees develop phantom limb syndrome?

  60-80%
• What is the implication of phantom limb syndrome?

  Continued sensation in the missing limb
• What gender differences exist in plasticity?

  Women may have greater plasticity than men