plasticity and functional recovery

• What did early theories about brain plasticity focus on?

  They focused on there being a critical period in terms of brain structure and development.
• What does recent research suggest about neural connections?

  It suggests that existing neural connections can change or new ones can be formed at any point in life.
• What does the term 'plasticity' refer to in the context of the brain?

  It refers to the brain's ability to change and adapt as a result of experience or new learning.
• At what age does the number of neural connections peak during infancy?

  Approximately at the age of 2-3.
• How many neural connections does a child's brain have at its peak compared to an adult brain?

  A child's brain has approximately 15,000 connections, which is 2 times as many as an adult brain.
• What is synaptic pruning?

  It is the process where rarely used connections are deleted and frequently used connections are strengthened.
• What is an example of plasticity in the brain?

  Functional recovery after trauma is an example of plasticity.
• How does the brain adapt after physical injury or trauma?

  Unaffected areas of the brain can adapt and compensate for damaged areas.
• What is neural regeneration?

  It is the process where the brain rewires itself through the growth of new neurons and/or connections to compensate for damaged areas.
• What is axon sprouting?

  It is the growth of new nerve endings to form new pathways.
• What is denervation supersensitivity?

  It is when axons performing similar functions to damaged ones become more sensitive to compensate.
• What does functional compensation in the brain involve?

  It involves the transfer of functions to undamaged areas, possibly recruiting similar areas on the opposite hemisphere.
• What evidence supports the concept of plasticity according to Maguire et al. (2000)?


  They found that the hippocampal volume was significantly larger in London Taxi drivers who completed the ‘knowledge’ test compared to controls.
• What does the study by Draganski et al. (2006) suggest about learning and brain structure?

  It suggests that learning induced changes in the structure of the brain, as observed in the hippocampus and parietal cortex.
• How does age affect functional plasticity?

  Functional plasticity tends to reduce with age, but neural changes can still occur in individuals aged 40-60.
• What gender differences have been found in recovery from brain injury?

  Research has found that women tend to recover more effectively than men, possibly because their function is not as lateralised.
• What is an example of 'negative/maladaptive' plasticity?

  Phantom limb syndrome due to reorganisation of the somatosensory cortex is an example.
• How can prolonged drug use affect the brain?

  It can result in poor cognitive function and a greater risk of dementia.
• What are the practical applications of understanding brain plasticity?

  • Contributes to the field of neurorehabilitation
  • Important implications in the real world