Plasticity and functions of the brain
The brain would appear to be “plastic” in the sense that it has the ability to change
throughout life.
During infancy, the brain experiences a rapid growth in the number of synaptic connections.
Originally thought that pruning was restricted to childhood.
Brain Plasticity- this describes the brain's tendency to change and adapt as a result of
experience and new learning.
Maguire et al (2000)
Studied the brain of taxi drivers and found out that they had a bigger hippocampus than
average.
Hippocampus linked to navigation (evolutionary trait for survival).
Golf Study- idiographic but disproves that pruning stops at older ages. It still continues.
Cat- eye was sewed shut. Other eye compensated for vision. Unethical etc.
Phantom Limb- pain still exists even when chopped limb is gone etc
The best example a plasticity is functional recovery
Following trauma, unaffected areas of the brain are often able to adapt and compensate for
the areas that are damaged.
The brain is able to rewire itself by forming new synaptic connections close to the area of
damage
A number of structural changes in the brain take place:
- Axon sprouting- new nerve endings connect to undamaged nerves
- Reformation of blood vessels
- Recruitment of similar areas, on the opposite side of the brain to perform specific
tasks
- Pruning- removal of synaptic connections
The brain would appear to be “plastic” in the sense that it has the ability to change
throughout life.
During infancy, the brain experiences a rapid growth in the number of synaptic connections.
Originally thought that pruning was restricted to childhood.
Brain Plasticity- this describes the brain's tendency to change and adapt as a result of
experience and new learning.
Maguire et al (2000)
Studied the brain of taxi drivers and found out that they had a bigger hippocampus than
average.
Hippocampus linked to navigation (evolutionary trait for survival).
Golf Study- idiographic but disproves that pruning stops at older ages. It still continues.
Cat- eye was sewed shut. Other eye compensated for vision. Unethical etc.
Phantom Limb- pain still exists even when chopped limb is gone etc
The best example a plasticity is functional recovery
Following trauma, unaffected areas of the brain are often able to adapt and compensate for
the areas that are damaged.
The brain is able to rewire itself by forming new synaptic connections close to the area of
damage
A number of structural changes in the brain take place:
- Axon sprouting- new nerve endings connect to undamaged nerves
- Reformation of blood vessels
- Recruitment of similar areas, on the opposite side of the brain to perform specific
tasks
- Pruning- removal of synaptic connections
