Describe and evaluate research into brain plasticity and functional recovery (16 marks)
Brain plasticity refers to the brain’s ability to change and adapt its own structure as a result of
experience and new learning. Research has demonstrated that the brain is continuously making
new connections and altering existing ones in response to changing experiences. During
infancy, the brain experiences rapid growth of synaptic connections, and as we age, rarely used
connections are deleted and frequently used connections are strengthened-a process known as
synaptic pruning.
One key piece of research into this field was conducted by Kuhn et al who compared a control
group with a video game training group. The training group were trained at least 30 minutes a
day for 2 months on the game super Mario. They found a significant increase in grey matter in
various areas of the brain, including the cortex, the hippocampus and the cerebellum for those
who trained, however this increase was not evident for the control group that didn’t play super
Mario. The researchers concluded that the video game training had resulted in new synaptic
connections in the brain areas, involved with things like spatial navigation and strategic
planning, all skills which were needed for playing the game successfully.
One significant strength of brain plasticity would be that there is further research evidence to
support the idea which comes from Maguire et al, who provides evidence for the impact of
experience on neural connections. They found that London taxi drivers have significantly more
grey matter in their posterior hippocampus, which is an area involved in the development of
spatial and navigational skills than in a matched control group. As part of their training, London
cab drivers must take a complex test called ‘the knowledge’ which involves knowing the streets,
shortcuts, landmarks ect. Furthermore, the more experienced the driver is, the more
pronounced the neural connections were. This suggests that, as a result of a learning
experience, the brain structures of cab drivers was altered which provides support for brain
plasticity.
However, one limitation to consider would be that the relationship between brain plasticity and
age is complex and misunderstood. Plasticity tends to reduce with age as the brain has greater
propensity for neural reorganisation as a child since they are always learning and experiencing
new things. However, Bezolla et al (2012) found that 40 years of gold training produced
changes in neural reorganisation of movement in participants aged 40-60 showing that it
potentially lasts a lifetime. Therefore, this complex relationship and counter evidence may act as
a limitation to understanding brain plasticity fully.
Functional recovery is a form of plasticity where, following physical injury or other forms of
trauma, unaffected areas of the brain adapt and compensate for those damaged areas. Healthy
brain areas will take over those damaged or destroyed areas, and neuroscientists claim that this
process can occur quickly after the trauma. Danelli et al (2013) conducted a case study to
investigate functional recovery of patient EB who had a tumour removed from his left
hemisphere in the brain. This removed the language centres of broca’s and wernicke’s areas.
Immediately after surgery EB lost all language ability (aphasia), however after 2 years in
recovery, in a follow up he had recovered his language ability. Even without his left hemisphere,
EB had developed normally as he aged apart from some dyslexia like symptoms. It was found
that the right hemisphere compensated for the loss of the left hemisphere, so it could function
well linguistically, clearly showing that the brain can adapt and recover after significant damage
especially early on in life, with the right hemisphere taking on the role for the left.
Brain plasticity refers to the brain’s ability to change and adapt its own structure as a result of
experience and new learning. Research has demonstrated that the brain is continuously making
new connections and altering existing ones in response to changing experiences. During
infancy, the brain experiences rapid growth of synaptic connections, and as we age, rarely used
connections are deleted and frequently used connections are strengthened-a process known as
synaptic pruning.
One key piece of research into this field was conducted by Kuhn et al who compared a control
group with a video game training group. The training group were trained at least 30 minutes a
day for 2 months on the game super Mario. They found a significant increase in grey matter in
various areas of the brain, including the cortex, the hippocampus and the cerebellum for those
who trained, however this increase was not evident for the control group that didn’t play super
Mario. The researchers concluded that the video game training had resulted in new synaptic
connections in the brain areas, involved with things like spatial navigation and strategic
planning, all skills which were needed for playing the game successfully.
One significant strength of brain plasticity would be that there is further research evidence to
support the idea which comes from Maguire et al, who provides evidence for the impact of
experience on neural connections. They found that London taxi drivers have significantly more
grey matter in their posterior hippocampus, which is an area involved in the development of
spatial and navigational skills than in a matched control group. As part of their training, London
cab drivers must take a complex test called ‘the knowledge’ which involves knowing the streets,
shortcuts, landmarks ect. Furthermore, the more experienced the driver is, the more
pronounced the neural connections were. This suggests that, as a result of a learning
experience, the brain structures of cab drivers was altered which provides support for brain
plasticity.
However, one limitation to consider would be that the relationship between brain plasticity and
age is complex and misunderstood. Plasticity tends to reduce with age as the brain has greater
propensity for neural reorganisation as a child since they are always learning and experiencing
new things. However, Bezolla et al (2012) found that 40 years of gold training produced
changes in neural reorganisation of movement in participants aged 40-60 showing that it
potentially lasts a lifetime. Therefore, this complex relationship and counter evidence may act as
a limitation to understanding brain plasticity fully.
Functional recovery is a form of plasticity where, following physical injury or other forms of
trauma, unaffected areas of the brain adapt and compensate for those damaged areas. Healthy
brain areas will take over those damaged or destroyed areas, and neuroscientists claim that this
process can occur quickly after the trauma. Danelli et al (2013) conducted a case study to
investigate functional recovery of patient EB who had a tumour removed from his left
hemisphere in the brain. This removed the language centres of broca’s and wernicke’s areas.
Immediately after surgery EB lost all language ability (aphasia), however after 2 years in
recovery, in a follow up he had recovered his language ability. Even without his left hemisphere,
EB had developed normally as he aged apart from some dyslexia like symptoms. It was found
that the right hemisphere compensated for the loss of the left hemisphere, so it could function
well linguistically, clearly showing that the brain can adapt and recover after significant damage
especially early on in life, with the right hemisphere taking on the role for the left.
