Plasticity and functional brain recovery of brain after trauma

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Brain plasticity: This is the brain's ability to change and adapt due to experience and learning. At infancy, synaptic connections grow to a peak of 15,000 at age 2-3 (double the amount in the adult brain). Connections that aren't used and deleted and connections used are strengthened which is known as synaptic pruning. Recent research shows that existing connections can change and new ones can form due to learning and experience. 

Research into plasticity: Maguire studied the brains of London taxi drivers and found that they had a greater volume of grey matter in their posterior hippocampus which is associated with spatial and navigational skills. Cabbies take 'the knowledge' test to asses their recall of streets and routes. This new learning could alter their brain structure. A positive correlation is that the longer they had been in the job, the bigger the structural difference was. Additionally, Draganski imaged the brains of medical students 3 months before and 3 months after their finals. It was found that learning-induced changes happened in the posterior hippocampus and the parietal cortex. 

Functioncal recovery after trauma: After damage, the unaffected areas can adapt and compensate for the damaged area. Functional recovery is an example of plasticity. Unaffected areas can recover functions. Sponatenous recovery is quick, then recovery slows down after a few weeks-months. Individuals may require rehabilitative therapy for further recovery. 

How recovery happens: The brain creates new synaptic connections close to the area of…