CH5 Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity is the nervous system’s ability to change its structure and function as a result of experience and in response to injury.

Developmental plasticity is the most rapid development and changes in structure and function of the brain that occurs during infancy and adolescence, diminishing with age.

The stages of brain development includes the following stages:

• 1.Neurogenesis
• 2.Neural migration
• 3.Neural maturation
• 4.Synaptogenesis
• 5.Synaptic pruning
• 6.Myelination

Neurogenesis is the process by which neurons divide and multiply starting from third week of gestation and during adulthood.

Neural migration is where neurons travel to their final location within the nervous system.

(At the same time of neural migration)

Neural maturation occurs where dendrites grow and extend to axons of other neurons, which results in the formation of pathways between neurons.

Synaptogenesis is the process of developing connections between neurons.

Synaptic pruning is the process in which extra, weak or unused synaptic connections are removed.

Myelination is the formation of the myelin sheath around a neuron

Adaptive plasticity occurs as a result of two processes that take place at the synapse between neurons - sprouting and rerouting

Sprouting is the growth of extra branches of dendrites or axons to establish new connections with other neurons

Rerouting is when active neurons in the brain seek new connections around the damaged neurons to enable recovery in lost functions.

An acquired brain injury (ABI) refers to brain damage that occurs after birth.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI): a type of acquired brain injury that occur suddenly as a result of injury caused by an external force.

Such as a traumatic blow to the head that damages brain tissue or structures.

Non-traumatic brain injury (NTBI): brain injury that occurs slowly over time as a result of internal factors.

Spatial neglect: a tendency to ignore stimuli in the left or right side of visual space after a brain damaging event, such as a stroke

Aphasia: an acquired language impairment that results from brain damage, usually in the left hemisphere. However can be caused by damage to any of the cortical areas involved in language.

• - inability to produce clear,, fluent speech that others can understand
• - speech is slow and sluured words are not properly formed
• - person can understand language
• - person is usually aware of their inability to communicate effectively

• - inability to understand language (written and spoken)
• - speech is dear and words are properly formed
• - words that are put together are not grammatically correct and sentences do not make sense
• - person is often unaware of their inability to communicate effectively

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE): a progressive, degenerative and fatal brain disease associated with repeated blows to the head over a long period.

Neurological disorders: diseases or events that affect the brain, the spinal cord and the nerves that connect them.