OCCTH 585- Neuro Exam Questions
and Answers 100% Pass
How do we know the brain is capable of being changed? - ✔✔1. Skill acquisition: our
brain layout must change to allow for the acquisition of new capabilities
2. nervous system develops as you grow
3. aging: after age 21 we start to lose neurons so the neurons left over will adapt to pick
up the slack
4. Nervous system changes following injury or disease
5. Recovery: the brain will go through neuroplasticity to optimize what it has left
The main communicating cells of the nervous system are: - ✔✔neurons
In what ways does neuroplasticity occur? - ✔✔1. change in the properties of
neurotransmission via a change in PSP size or shape and/or a change in the transmitter
released
2. changing the cell properties by changing the size/shape of the cell, it's electrical
properties/resistance and/or leakiness of the membrane
Brittie Donald, All Rights Reserved © 2025 1
,3. structural changes in the cell
Describe the process of unmasking - ✔✔the process of exposing present synapses that
were previously silent
You're working on reducing a recent lower limb amputee's phantom limb pain when
they ask you the reason for why they still feel sensation in a limb that is no longer there.
What phenomenon is the likely cause and how would you explain it? - ✔✔They are
experiencing unmasking. I would inform them that while they are no longer getting
sensory input from that limb, there are neurons in that cortical area of the brain that
have now been exposed. These neurons receive inputs from other areas of the body
which result in the the sensation felt by the amputated limb.
Describe the process of dendritic pruning - ✔✔If a neuron loses inputs from a cell
following disease or injury and the vacant spots are not filled, the dendrites will begin
to retract causing changes to the cell's shape/size and thus its behaviour
compare and contrast unmasking vs dendritic pruning - ✔✔unmasking occurs
immediately and results in functional changes to the cells that influence its behaviour
dendritie pruning occurs over time and results in a loss of SA, brain mass, and changes
to the shape/size of the cell which leads to changes in behaviour
Simply put, collateral sprouting is... - ✔✔growth of new synapses onto a cell
Brittie Donald, All Rights Reserved © 2025 2
, When a neuron has vacant real estate, this space will emit a chemical signal and nearby
cells will begin to form synapses towards those vacancies, what is this process called? -
✔✔collateral sprouting
Provide characteristics of collateral sprouting - ✔✔- requires time to grow new tissue
- may or may not fill vacant space in the nervous sytem
- is activity dependent (more active neurons= more collaterals)
- produces functional changes as they provide more inputs leading to domination of a
cell
Neurogenesis - ✔✔growth of new neurons
T/F: Adults can't generate new neurons in the central nervous system. Explain -
✔✔False. Adults can generate new neurons in very limited anatomical regions such as
the hippocampus, lateral ventricle, and cortex
How are neurons involved in learning and memory - ✔✔we change the structure of
synapses to retain memory and go through new learning when we want to forget
memories
- cells only live for a couple months before they get turned over
Is it possible to use neurogenesis for long term neurological recovery? - ✔✔Not yet.
Neurogenesis happens in a fixed pattern and cells go through a lifetime of learning and
Brittie Donald, All Rights Reserved © 2025 3
and Answers 100% Pass
How do we know the brain is capable of being changed? - ✔✔1. Skill acquisition: our
brain layout must change to allow for the acquisition of new capabilities
2. nervous system develops as you grow
3. aging: after age 21 we start to lose neurons so the neurons left over will adapt to pick
up the slack
4. Nervous system changes following injury or disease
5. Recovery: the brain will go through neuroplasticity to optimize what it has left
The main communicating cells of the nervous system are: - ✔✔neurons
In what ways does neuroplasticity occur? - ✔✔1. change in the properties of
neurotransmission via a change in PSP size or shape and/or a change in the transmitter
released
2. changing the cell properties by changing the size/shape of the cell, it's electrical
properties/resistance and/or leakiness of the membrane
Brittie Donald, All Rights Reserved © 2025 1
,3. structural changes in the cell
Describe the process of unmasking - ✔✔the process of exposing present synapses that
were previously silent
You're working on reducing a recent lower limb amputee's phantom limb pain when
they ask you the reason for why they still feel sensation in a limb that is no longer there.
What phenomenon is the likely cause and how would you explain it? - ✔✔They are
experiencing unmasking. I would inform them that while they are no longer getting
sensory input from that limb, there are neurons in that cortical area of the brain that
have now been exposed. These neurons receive inputs from other areas of the body
which result in the the sensation felt by the amputated limb.
Describe the process of dendritic pruning - ✔✔If a neuron loses inputs from a cell
following disease or injury and the vacant spots are not filled, the dendrites will begin
to retract causing changes to the cell's shape/size and thus its behaviour
compare and contrast unmasking vs dendritic pruning - ✔✔unmasking occurs
immediately and results in functional changes to the cells that influence its behaviour
dendritie pruning occurs over time and results in a loss of SA, brain mass, and changes
to the shape/size of the cell which leads to changes in behaviour
Simply put, collateral sprouting is... - ✔✔growth of new synapses onto a cell
Brittie Donald, All Rights Reserved © 2025 2
, When a neuron has vacant real estate, this space will emit a chemical signal and nearby
cells will begin to form synapses towards those vacancies, what is this process called? -
✔✔collateral sprouting
Provide characteristics of collateral sprouting - ✔✔- requires time to grow new tissue
- may or may not fill vacant space in the nervous sytem
- is activity dependent (more active neurons= more collaterals)
- produces functional changes as they provide more inputs leading to domination of a
cell
Neurogenesis - ✔✔growth of new neurons
T/F: Adults can't generate new neurons in the central nervous system. Explain -
✔✔False. Adults can generate new neurons in very limited anatomical regions such as
the hippocampus, lateral ventricle, and cortex
How are neurons involved in learning and memory - ✔✔we change the structure of
synapses to retain memory and go through new learning when we want to forget
memories
- cells only live for a couple months before they get turned over
Is it possible to use neurogenesis for long term neurological recovery? - ✔✔Not yet.
Neurogenesis happens in a fixed pattern and cells go through a lifetime of learning and
Brittie Donald, All Rights Reserved © 2025 3
