plasticity

• Brain plasticity

  • ability tot modify structure + function based on expeirence
  • Rapid growth at infancy - Gopnik et al: 15000 synaptic connections per neuron at 2-3
  • synaptic pruning: unused connections deleted, used strengthened
• brain plasticity research

  • Maguire et al
  • london tax drivers
  • more grey matter in posterior hippocampus (development of spatial + navigational skills in humans)
  • have to take ‘The Knowledge’
  • more years = more pronounced difference
• brain plasticity research

  • Draganski et al
  • imaged medical students brains 3 months before + after exams
  • changed in posterior hippocampus + parietal cortex
• brain plasticity - evaulations

  • S: 40h golf training = more motor cortex activity compared to control - participants 40-60, neural plasticity continue through lifespan
  • S: Hubel + Wiesel: 1 eyed cat (sewn shut) - prevent visual stimulation - visual cortex designated to sewn eye processed info from open eye HOWEVER generalisability to humans + ethics
  • W: Medina et al: lifetime marijuana use = poor cognitive function + increased dementia risk - ability to adapt not positive