Plasticity + functional recovery

• Neural plasticity

  • how the brain can change and adapt its structures and processes as a result of experience and new learning
  • the number of synaptic connections peaks at age 2-3 and is twice the amount in the adult brain
  • from infancy to adulthood, rarely used connections are deleted and frequently used connections are strengthened - synaptic pruning
• Kuhn et al

  • found increases in grey matter in the cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum for Ps who had played Super Matio for thirty minutes a day for two months compared to a control group
  • playing video games can result in new connections in brain areas involved in spatial recognition, strategic planning and working memory
• Maguire et al

  • found that cab driver's grey matter enlarges and adapts to help them store a detailed mental map of the city
  • the scientists found that part of the hippocampus grew larger as the drivers spent more time in the job
  • the hippocampus was exnamined in MRI scans on London cabbies
  • tests found that the only area that was different in taxi drivers' brains to 50 controls was left and right posterior hippocampus
• Functional recovery

  • this is a form of neural plasticity
  • following damage through trauma, this is the brain's ability to redistribute or transfer functions to other undamaged areas.
  • the healthy brain areas may take over those that are damaged, destroyed or missing
  • an e.g. of where this happens is following a stroke, where plasticity can occur straight afterwards and then slows down at which point further rehabilitation will be needed
• Following recovery, the brain revives and reorganises itself by forming new synaptic connections close to the area of damage. Growth of new nerve endings which connect with undamaged nerve cells to form new neuron pathways. Nearby areas may be recruited or similar areas on other side of the brain, e.g. Broca's area could be relearned by areas in the right hemisphere or an adjacent area to the damage could take on the role
• A03

  • Lazar et al
  • used MRI and found that experiences mediators had a thicker cortex than non mediators, especially in areas that are responsible for sensory processing and attention
  • other research has backed up the idea that mindfulness and meditiation training can result in neural plasticity
  • for e.g. studies have shown that the left hippocampus which is assosciated with the functions of learning and memory had an increase in grey matter following an 8 week course
• A03- Value

  • understanding the processes involved in plasticity has contributed to the field of rehabilitation
  • the quicker the intervention following a stroke, the better the window of opportunity for the most plasticity is soon afterwards
  • further intervention is then required as the brain has the capacity to fix itself to a point
• A03 - Support

  • further support comes from animal studies
  • KEMPERMANN ET AL found that an increased number of neurons in the brains of rats housed in complex environments compared to rats housed in laboratory cages
  • found an increase in neurons in the hippocampus which is responsible for the formation of new memories and the ability to navigate from one location to another
• A03- limitation

  Level of educational attainment may influence how well the brain functionally adapts after injury. The more time brain injury patients had spent in education, the greater their chances of a disability free recovery.