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Neuroplasticity (Plasticity Research (Eric Kandel, 1970's (Research on…

- - - - Merzenich's discovery prompted other researchers to experiment with plasticity on animals and humans.
        
        Discoveries
        
        Brain can reprogram itself.
        
        Neurons that are in close proximity to each other join together via the exchange of synaptic neurotransmitters.
        
        Synaptic links can weaken in response to experiences.
        
        Plasticity can be explained through Hebb's Rule: "Cells that fire together wire together," (Carr, 2011, p 27).
        
        Plasticity not limited to somatosensory cortex, entire brain can change.
        
        Neuron's connections are always in flux: breaking old connections and forming new paths.
        
        Plasticity is not just a healing mechanism due to damage.
        
        Plasticity occurs in healthy individuals.
        
        Neuroplasticity is the way that our brains adapt to changing conditions. It's the way that we learn new facts and skills.
        
        Plasticity diminishes as we age.
        
        New nerve cells constantly created.
    - - Method
        
        Used micro-electrode to map brain.
        
        Nerve was then cut and allowed to heal to see effect on brain.
        
        Mapping after injury is altered.
      - Results
        
        After more healing, monkey's brain has rewired so that a new neural pathway has created a new mapping to allow functionality.
    - - Sigmund Freud
        
        Gaps between cells are essential.
        
        Freud called these gaps, "contact barriers" (Carr, 2011 p. 19).
        
        Findings outside mainstream research of the time.
        
        Felt the contact barriers between neurons allowed the brain to change because of a person's experiences.
        
        Brain made up of separate cells.
      - William James
        
        Thought brain was adaptable.
        
        James thought the tissue in the brain, "seem endowed with a very extraordinary degree of plasticity" (Carr, 2011, p. 21).
        
        Brain can change from outside or inside forces.
  - - - Brain a mechanical instrument
      - Dualism
        
        Brain and mind two different planes
        
        Brain and mind could influence each other
        
        Descartes believed the pineal gland was the connection.
- - - - Brain makes space for skills we do practice.
      - Skills can be rebuilt but with effort.
- - - - Advanced abstract thinking in cultures
        
        Individuals realized the reality of the map's terms and illustrations.
        
        Individuals could imagine experiences within an abstract physical space.
        
        Maps allowed man's neural pathways to develop and thus be able to understand what shapes the area in which he live and planning for future events.
    - - Early man did not have a way to precisely measure time.
        
        Astronomical objects guided individuals with regard to time.
      - Monks demanded more precise time measurement to accommodate religious schedule.
        
        Development of the mechanical clock.
        
        Chiming of bell in bell tower provided a precision to individual's lives.
        
        Synchronization of clocks became necessary among towns for industry to flourish.
        
        Units of time became standardized: hours, minutes, seconds.
        
        Mechanisms were fine tuned to ensure accuracy.
      - 14th century, the clock was a common tool among individual's lives.
        
        Miniaturization of mechanisms within clocks occurred. Clocks became small and more affordable.
        
        Personal clocks were carried: pocket watches and wristwatches.
        
        Time became a crucial factor in peoples lives. The aspect of not wasting time became an important factor in an individual's lives
        
        The concept of abstract divided time became an important spring board for scientific and mathematical thought.
    - - Abstract Alphabets
        
        Sumerian and Egyptian alphabet contained cuneiform and hieroglyphic which taxed the brain and required neural circuits.
        
        These circuits linked visual, logic, hearing, and spatial analysis which increased neural pathways.
      - Compact Alphabets
        
        Greek alphabet used 24 characters, which was more efficient and required fewer areas of the brain to be engaged in order to process.
      - Alphabets allowed cultures to shift from oral recitation.
        
        Advantages of written communication.
        
        Cognitive benefits help anyone who learns to read/write.
        
        Literacy helps advancement of other sciences and explains language.
        
        Language and the written word makes for the exchange of information and to store complex information.
        
        Disadvanges of oral communication.
        
        Oral knowledge dependent on capacity of memory of speaker.
        
        Speakers used memory, rhythmical, and formulaic methods to help support memorization and narration.