plasticity

• brain has been likened to plastic as changes throughout life. infant there is rapid growth of synaptic connections and peaks at around 15,000 age 2-3. as we age rarely used connections are deleted but frequently used are strengthened aka synaptic pruning
• maguire 2000 taxi drivers london increased volume grey matter in posterior hippocampus associated spatial navigation. training had included complex test to recall streets and routes. experience alters brain structure
• -neg behavioural consequences. medina 2002 brain adapting to drug use poor cog function and dementia. 60-80% amputees phantom limb syndrome sensation were limb was unpleasant due to cortical recognition in somatosensory cortex. suggests brains ability to adapt after damage not always true
• +plasticity life long but reduces with age. bezzola 2012 40hrs gold training produced changes in neural representation. using fmris researcher observed increased motor activity in novice golfers. suggests increased efficiency neural representation after training. shows that neural plasticity continued throughout life
• seasonal plasticity occurs due to environmental change. suprachiasmistic nucleus regulates sleep wake cycle. evidence shows brain shrinks in spring and expands in winter. human behaviour controlled differently throughout seasons