6.5.1 Brain Plasticity

• Brain plasticity refers to the brain's ability to modify its structure and function
• What is the process by which new neurons are created?

  Neurogenesis
• Synaptic pruning eliminates weak or unused connections in the brain.
• The formation of new neural connections leads to better communication between neurons
• Match the structural change with its description:

  Neurogenesis ↔️ Creation of new neurons

  Synaptic Pruning ↔️ Elimination of unused connections

  New Neural Connections ↔️ Strengthening existing synapses
• New neurons are primarily created in the hippocampus and olfactory bulb
• Synaptic pruning streamlines neural pathways in the brain.
• What is the effect of forming new neural connections on neural communication?

  Better communication
• Neurogenesis primarily occurs in the hippocampus and olfactory bulb
• Which structural change involves the elimination of unused neural connections?

  Synaptic pruning
• Match the structural change with its example:

  Neurogenesis ↔️ Hippocampus produces new neurons

  Synaptic Pruning ↔️ Trimming unnecessary synapses

  New Neural Connections ↔️ Musician developing motor cortex
• Long-term potentiation (LTP) strengthens synapses through repeated stimulation
• Which brain region expands when learning precise finger movements?

  Motor cortex
• What does long-term potentiation (LTP) do to synapses?

  Strengthens them
• The motor cortex expands for more precise movements
• Order the mechanisms of brain plasticity:

  1️⃣ Neurogenesis

  2️⃣ Synaptic pruning

  3️⃣ Long-term potentiation
• Learning a new language enhances language areas in the cortex.
• Brain plasticity is the brain's ability to modify its structure and function
• What is neurogenesis in the context of brain plasticity?

  Creation of new neurons
• Match the structural change with its description:

  Neurogenesis ↔️ Creation of new neurons

  Synaptic pruning ↔️ Elimination of weak connections

  New neural connections ↔️ Strengthening existing synapses
• What is the role of synaptic pruning in brain plasticity?

  Elimination of weak connections
• Neurogenesis primarily occurs in the hippocampus and olfactory bulb.
• Musical training can lead to a larger motor cortex area related to finger movements.
• Match the functional change with its example:

  LTP ↔️ Learning a new fact

  Cortical reorganization ↔️ Learning an instrument

  Specialization of regions ↔️ Motor cortex expands for precise movements
• Experience shapes brain structure and function through neurogenesis, synaptic pruning, and LTP.
• In which brain regions does neurogenesis primarily occur?

  Hippocampus and olfactory bulb
• Order the mechanisms of brain plasticity from least to most complex:

  1️⃣ Neurogenesis

  2️⃣ Synaptic pruning

  3️⃣ Long-term potentiation
• Synaptic pruning eliminates unused connections to streamline neural pathways.
• What is the effect of long-term potentiation (LTP) on synaptic connections?

  Strengthens them
• Learning a new language enhances language areas in the cortex.
• Experience profoundly impacts brain plasticity by shaping brain structure and function
• Synaptic pruning streamlines neural pathways by eliminating weak connections
• Match the mechanism with its description:

  Neurogenesis ↔️ Creation of new neurons

  Synaptic Pruning ↔️ Elimination of unused connections

  LTP ↔️ Strengthening synaptic connections
• Learning a new language enhances language areas in the cortex
• Synaptic pruning occurs primarily during adulthood.

  False
• What is neurogenesis in the context of brain plasticity?

  Creation of new neurons
• Experience profoundly impacts brain plasticity by shaping brain structure and function
• Synaptic pruning is the elimination of weak neural connections to streamline pathways.
• Examples of brain plasticity in action

  1️⃣ Musicians with enlarged motor cortex

  2️⃣ London taxi drivers with larger hippocampus

  3️⃣ Second language learners with increased gray matter
• Musicians develop an enlarged motor cortex for finger movements