Example of plasticity, refers to the brain's ability to transfer functions usually performed by a damaged area to an undamaged area
1 of 10
What is one way the brain can recover?
Neuronal activation: the brain forms new synaptic connections close to the area of damage
2 of 10
What is one of the structural processes supporting neuronal activation?
Axonal sprouting: growth of new nerve endings which connect with other undamaged nerve cells to form new pathways
3 of 10
What are the other two structural processes?
Reformation of blood vessels + recruitment of similar areas on the opposite side of the brain
4 of 10
What is the other way the brain can recover?
Stem cells: unspecialised cells that have the potential to give rise to different cell types that carry out different functions
5 of 10
Supporting evidence from brain damaged rats
Rats with brain injury, one group received transplants of stem cells, the other had no stem cells, 3 months later stem cell rats showed recovery
6 of 10
Practical applications
Has contributed to the field of neuro-rehabilitation
7 of 10
X: Problem of individual differences
Evidence suggests a person's educational attainment may influence how well the brain recovers, Ps with uni education were 7x more likely to be disability free after 1 year
8 of 10
X: Age differences in plasticity
Brain has a greater ability to reorganie in childhood; 40 hrs of golf training produced changes in the neural representation of movement in Ps aged 40-60
9 of 10
X: Issue of using animals in research
May not be able to generalise to human plasticity as humans have higher cognitive functioning
10 of 10
Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
What is one way the brain can recover?
Back
Neuronal activation: the brain forms new synaptic connections close to the area of damage
Card 3
Front
What is one of the structural processes supporting neuronal activation?
Comments
No comments have yet been made