functional recovery

• After brain trauma

  • neuronal unmasking: dormant neurons compensate for damage - denervation super sensitivity: axons compensate for lost ones
  • neuronal reorganistion: undamaged take over damaged - recruitment of homdoguous areas on other hemisphere
  • neuronal regeneration: repairing damaged areas - axonal sprouting: growth of new nerve endings connect with undamaged ones

  can occur quickly after trauma (spontaneous recovery) then slows

  may require rehabilitive therapy
• functional recovery evalautions

  • S: application: neurorehabilitation, axonal growth encouraged constraint induced movement for stroke patients - encourages research into intervention HOWEVER suggests theyes a limit to after brain trauma: effective at law of Equipotentiality but limit to where therapy required - inadequate alone
  • patient EB - most of l-hemisphere removed at 2, intensive therapy allowed r-hemisphere to take over language + speech
  • more education time = more chance of disability free life - 40% DF 16+yrs education, 10% below 12 - not brain that assists recovery