Plasticity and functional recovery

• Brain plasticity refers to the the brains ability to change and adapt because of experiences.
• Functional recovery is the transfer of functions from a damaged area of the brain after trauma to an undamaged area.

  
  

  Synapse strengthening: the likelihood of a nerve impulse being transmitted increases. Occurs when the number of neurotransmitters increases. With strengthened synapses, other brain regions can take over the functions of nearby, damaged, brain regions.

  
  

  Rewiring: when new neuron connections are created via two previously unconnected neurons. When a brain region is damaged, the axons that used to connect with it, rewire to connect with nearby regions.
• Maguire et al.

  Aim) To examine whether structural changes could be detected in the brains of people with extensive spatial navigation.

  Method) 16 MRI scans of right handed London taxi drivers obtained & MRI scans of 50 right-handed non-taxi drivers.

  Findings) Increased volume of posterior hippocampus found in taxi drivers compared to the non-taxi drivers.

  Conclusions) Supports the idea of brain plasticity and that through experience (driving a taxi) can change the structure of the brain.
• AO3

  Strength)Kuhn et al. found an increase in grey matter in brains of participants after playing video games for 30 minutes every day over a two month period.

  ->Provides evidence of brain plasticity.

  Strength)Researching f.r, b.p has lead to neurorehabilitation, which means countering the negative effects following injuries/strokes using motor therapy and electrical stimulation.

  ->demonstrates the positive application of this research.
• Neuronal unmasking: silent synapses become active again, revealing connections between brain regions.