Plasticity and recovery

• Plasticity: This describes the brains tendency to change and adapt as a result of experience and learning. This generally involves the growth of new connections.
• Functional recovery: A form of plasticity following damage through trauma, the brain's ability to redistribute functions to undamaged areas.
• Brain plasticity further explanations:

  • During infancy the brain experiences rapid growth in synaptic connections peaking at around 2-3 years old.
  • As we age, some connections that are no longer needed are deleted and frequency used connections are strengthened (Synaptic pruning).
  • These changes can happen at any age.
• Maguire et al- Plasticity research

  • Studied brains of taxi drivers and found more volume of grey matter in the brain compared to a control group.
  • Their learning experience alters the structure of the drivers brains.
• After brain trauma areas of the brain are often able to adapt and compensate for the damaged areas. This may occur quickly right after the trauma and then slow down over several weeks where the person may need to go to therapy to fully recover.
• Axonal sprouting: The growth of new nerve endings which connect with other undamaged nerve cells to form new pathways.
• Denervation super sensitivity: This occurs when axons that do a similar job become aroused to a higher level to compensate for the ones that were lost. This could however make the nerves oversensitive.
• Brain plasticity Evaluation (limitation)

  • It may have negative behavioural consequences
  • Brain's adaptation to prolonged drug abuse leads to poorer functioning later in life.
  • This shows how the brains ability to adapt may not always be for good.
• Brain plasticity Evaluation (Strength)

  • Brain plasticity is a life-long ability.
  • This is useful when learning things in adulthood as the brain is always changing pathways.
• Functional recovery Evaluation (Strength)

  • It has real-world application, it has encouraged new therapies to emerge.
  • Research into functional recovery is useful as it helps medical professionals know when interventions need to be made.
• Functional recovery Evaluation (limitations)

  • Level of education may influence recovery rates.
  • Research shows that those with more education are more likely to recover.
  • This implies that people with brain damage with insufficient education are less likely to have a full recovery.