Plasticity Evaluation

• Negative plasticity in the context of x-Plasticity may have negative behavioural consequences.
• Evidence has shown the prolonged use of drugs leads to poorer cognitive functioning later in life while also having increased risk of dementia found by Medina et al (2007).
• Furthermore, 60-80% of amputees have been known to develop phantom limb syndrome where they have unpleasant, painful sensations in the missing limb.
• It could be due to cortical reorganisation in the somatosensory cortex which occurs as a result of limb loss.
• This suggests the brains ability to adapt to damage is not always beneficial.
• Age and Plasticity - strength - Brain plasticity may be a life long ability. Generally, plasticity reduces with age. However, Bezzola et al (2002) demonstrated how 40 hours of golf training produced changes in neural activity in the brain that were similar to those seen in young adults from those aged 40-60. Using fMRI, researchers observed the motor cortex activity increasing in golfers compared to the control group. this suggests are more efficient neural representation after training and shows neural plasticity can continue throughout the lifespan.
• Research also suggests that there may be seasonal changes in plasticity in the brain.