A03

• * evidence to support from bezzolla?

  • found that brains of p aged between 40 & 60 changed after golf training
  • those that were given 40 hours of training had more activity in their motor cortex compared to control
  • if a skill that uses certain neural connections in brain is carried out alot these connections strengthen (increased grey matter).
  • shows that brain can adapt based on experiences to meet demands of individual through process of synaptic pruning
• * evidence to support from hubel & weisel?

  • did research on kittens which involved sewing 1 eye shut to see how visual cortex would respond
  • found that kittens were able to process info from open eye
  • shows when 1 functional area of brain is lost other areas can recover this function to compensate.
  • shows that another area can carry out this function through process of neural reorganisation
• * practical application?

  • although brain can rewire itself soon after trauma this process slows down after few weeks
  • means patients need further support to recover
  • neurohabilitation is form of physical therapy on brain - used to help patients recover & improve functioning
  • eg use techniques like electrical stimulation of brain to deal with damaged areas
  • has great success in helping lives of patients who have suffered trauma as result of injury/illness.
  • research has allowed for new successful techniques to be developed
  • has positive impact on patients & families
• X differences in terms of plasticity & fr?

  • ability of brain to recover varies depending on extent/location of damage & individual
  • eg characteristics (psych/physical/age) of patient influences recover ability
  • younger ppl more likely to recover compared to old
  • 1 individual may suffer same type of damage as another but both may not recover
  • individual differences between ppl means likelihood of fr can vary as persons level of plasticity is unique
  • population
  • level of recovery not going to be same for every person
  • idea that brain always recovers through nr cannot be generalised to entire pop
• X plasticity has negative effects on people?

  • research found that approx 60-80% amputees developed phantom limb syndrome
  • means continue to feel sensation of limb even though not part of them
  • unpleasant & painful - caused by changes in somatosensory cortex when limb lost
  • brain helps compensate for damaged areas have no control over when/how it occurs.
  • traumatic for patient - personally suffer from changes in brain through false belief that limb still present due to physical sensation brain produces
  • ? practicality as research suggests doesnt always have + impact on behaviour & psych wellbeing