Brain plasticity and functional recovery of the brain

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  • Created by: rxbyn004
  • Created on: 30-01-22 17:24
Plasticity?
brain adapts in function and structure as a result to change in environment. changes can be due to damage, or to meet cognitive demands of learning new skills.
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Reasons for plasticity?
-learning new skills
-result of developmental changes
-response to direct trauma to area of brain
-response to indirect effects of damage such as brain swelling or bleeding (from stroke).
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Functional recovery after brain damage?
functions that were performed by areas of brain that are lost (neuronal cell death) or damaged are performed by undamaged areas of brain- functional reorganisation.
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Synaptic pruning?
synapses that are used frequently become stronger over time, however unused synaptic connections are lost. this makes the brain a more efficient communication system over time.
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Axonal sprouting
existing neutrons new axons to connect to adjacent neutrons. neural regeneration is growth of new neuronal cells.
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Denervation supersensitivity
to compensate fro loss of axons in a pathway the remaining axons become more sensitive. (more likely to fire). this can result in side effects such as pain.
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Factors affecting functional recovery?
Age- children have best ability to recover.
Gender- women more able to recover from brain damage
Rehabilitative therapy- focused efforts results in improvement
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Constraint induced therapy?
Stopping patients using coping strategies (like body language for communication or using undamaged limbs for tasks) makes hem improve via functional reorganisation.
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Evaluation for Brain Plasticity- Maguire.
Maguire- MRIs of 16 male taxi drivers were compared to brain scans of 16 matched non taxi driver controls.
posterior ippocampi in London Taxi Drivers were found to be significantly larger than controls. size of posterior hippocampus was positively correla
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Evaluation for Functional Recovery- Danelli
-case study of 14 yr old EB. age of 2.5 EB had hemispherectomy of left side of brain to remove tumour. this removed language centres of Broca's and Wernicke's areas.
- EB lost all language ability= aphasia after surgery. after 2yrs of recovery EB had reco
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Practical applications?
-has been useful in rehabilitative therapy, helping people return to their lives and productive work, ultimately benefitting wider economy.
- can help psychologists have a deeper understanding of brain and understand about functions of regions of brain t
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Reasons for plasticity?

Back

-learning new skills
-result of developmental changes
-response to direct trauma to area of brain
-response to indirect effects of damage such as brain swelling or bleeding (from stroke).

Card 3

Front

Functional recovery after brain damage?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Synaptic pruning?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Axonal sprouting

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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