Brain Plasticity and functional recovery

• define brain plasticity

  -Brain plasticity refers to the brain’s ability to change and adapt, both structurally and functionally, in response to experience and learning
• research has shown that

  -brain can alter neural connections throughout life
• what did Maguire et al find

  -found that London taxi drivers had significantly more grey matter in the posterior hippocampus than a control group
• What did Draganski find

  -showed changes in the posterior hippocampus and parietal cortex of medical students before and after exams, highlighting plasticity linked to intensive learning.
• What happens when our brains experience trauma

  -unaffected areas of the brain are often able to adapt and compensate for those areas that are damaged (functional recovery)
• Define spontaneous recovery

  -this process of FR can occur very quickly after trauma and then slow down after several weeks or months

  -patient may need rehabilitation therapy to further recovery
• Define neural regeneration

  -where axons sprout new connections to neighbouring neurons
• define neural unmasking

  -activation of previously dormant neural pathways
• define axonal sprouting

  -growth of new axon branches of uninjured neurons in response to injured neurones
• define axonal regeneration

  -regrowth of axons from the injured end of a neuron
• Outline reformation of blood vessels

  -new blood vessels are formed or existing ones are repaired to improve blood flow and oxygen delivery to the affected areas of the brain
• Functional recovery is often more effective...

  -in younger brains, but therapy and rehabilitation can also support it in adults.