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Plasticity and Functional Recovery of the Brain (Process of recovery…
Plasticity and Functional
Recovery of the Brain
Brain Plasticity
Infancy- growth in synaptic connections- 15000 and 2-3years (Gopnick et al)
Growing up- rarely connections deleted- connections strengthen (synaptic pruning)
New neural connections formed from learning and experiences.
Research in Plasticity
Maguire et al- London taxi drivers- more grey matter in posterior hippocampus- spatial and navigational skills- the longer they had been in the job, the more structural difference
Draganski et al- medical students before and after exams- changes in posterior hippocampus and parietal cortex assumed as result of exam
Mechelli et al- larger parietal cortex in bilingual people
Functional recovery after Trauma
after physical injury to brain, it adapts and compensates for areas that are damaged
Functional recovery- example of brain plasticity
Happens quickly after trauma (spontaneous recovery). Later on rehabilitative therapy to help recovery
Process of recovery
Rewire & reorganise- form new synaptic connections
Axonal Sprouting- growth of nerve endings connect to undamaged nerve cells (Structural Change)
Reformation of blood cells (Structural Change)
Recruitment of homologous (similar) areas- opposite side of brain- e.g. Broca's area damaged one side, other takes over. May change after a period of time
Practical Application
Contributed in field of Neurohabilitation
Physical therapy to help recovery- movement
electrical stimulation
Brain may 'fix itself' but needs help
Negative Plasticity
Maladaptive behavioural consequences- e.g. drug use= poorer cognitive functioning and increased risk for dementia (Mendina et al)
60-80% amputees- Phantom limb syndrome-unpleasant/painful- cortical reorganisation in somatosensory cortex
Animal Studies
Hubel & Wiesel- sew kitten eye shut- visual cortex= eye not idle
Ethical issues with animal study