plasticity and functional recovery

• plasticity- the brain's tendency to change and adapt as a result of new experiences and learning
• Plasticity- Maguire et al- found Taxi Drivers had a large volume of grey matter in the hippocampus- (area associated with spatial navigation) than average, and was larger in those who had been taxi drivers for longer
• Plasticity- Khun et al- control vs video game group, 30 mins/day on super mario for 2 months, significant increase in grey matter, areas involved in spatial navigation, strategic planning, motor performance, was not evident in the control group
• functional recovery- form of plasticity, areas of the brain are able to adapt and compensate for other damaged areas
• Maguire et al- supporting evidence for the impact of experience on neural connections, found that London taxi drivers have significantly more grey matter in their posterior hippocampus, an area involved in the development of spatial and navigational skills than in a matched control group.
• maguire et al research- suggests as a result of learning experience the brain structure of black cab drivers was altered which provides support for brain plasticity
• evidence of functional recovery- tajiri et al- when a trauma occurs, other parts of the brain can take over function, stem cells in this case transplanted into rat brains after trauma led to, the development of neuron-like cells, showing recovery of function. This suggests the brain has the capacity to revive itself to compensate for damaged areas