Plasticity and functional recovery

• Define Plasticity

  The brain adapts in both its function and structure as a result of a change in the environment. These changes could be due to damage, or to meet the cognitive demands of learning new skills
• Give 4 reasons for brain plasticity

  • Learning new skills
  • A result of developmental changes
  • Response to direct trauma to area of the brain
  • Response to indirect effects of damage such as brain swelling or bleeding (from stroke)
• Define functional recovery

  The functions that were performed by areas of the brain that are lost (neuronal cell death) or damaged are performed by undamaged areas of the brain. - Functional reorganisation
• What factors influence functional recovery?

  Age: Children have the best ability to recover, then young adults.

  Gender: Women are more able to recover from brain damage Rehabilitative Therapy: Focused effort results in improvement
• Briefly describe Maguire’s (2000) study into Plasticity

  MRI of 16 male taxi drivers compared to MRI of 16 matched (age, gender) non taxi driver controls. The posterior hippocampi in the London taxi drivers were found to be significantly larger than the controls. Suggesting the physical structure of the brain is plastic, able to reconfigure itself to better adapt to psychological demands
• Briefly describe Danelli ’s (2013) study into functional recovery

  Case study of 14-year-old EB. At 2 EB had a hemispherectomy of the left side of his brain to remove a tumour. This removed the language centres of Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas. Immediately after surgery EB had lost all language ability (aphasia). However, after two years of recovery EB had recovered his language ability.
• What practical benefits does Research on brain plasticity and functional recovery have?

  Useful in rehabilitative therapy eg Constraint induced therapy, Stopping patients using coping strategies (like body language for communication or using undamaged limbs for tasks) makes them improve via functional reorganisation. Helping people return to their lives and productive work, ultimately benefiting the wider economy.
• Briefly describe Mathias ’s (2015) study into functional recovery

  Metanalysis demonstrated IQ and educational background are positively correlated with better outcomes after traumatic brain injury, suggesting some individuals have a greater cognitive reserve, helping in recovery.