Plasticity and Functional Recovery of The Brain

Plasticity and Functional Recovery of the Brain
What is Brain Plasticity?
This refers to the fact that the brain can change and develop as a result of our experience and learning, and
also that it can recover after trauma.
The brain changes throughout the lifespan. During infancy, the brain experiences a rapid growth in the
number of synaptic connections there are to other neurons, peaking at around 15,000 at age 2-3 years. This
is around twice as many as there are in the adult brain. As we age, connections that we don’t use are deleted
and connections that we use a lot are strengthened. This process is known as synaptic pruning.
Even though the majority of changes in neural connections happen during childhood, adult brains still
change and develop, on a smaller scale, as a result of learning and experience.
The brain is not a static organ, and the functions and processes of the brain can change as a result of
experience and injury. Brain plasticity refers to the brain’s ability to change and adapt because of
experience. Research has demonstrated that the brain continues to create new neural pathways and alter
existing ones in response to changing experiences.
The brain also appears to show evidence of functional recovery: the transfer of functions from a damaged
area of the brain after trauma to other undamaged areas. It can do this through a process termed neuronal
unmasking where ‘dormant’ synapses (which have not received enough input to be active) open
connections to compensate for a nearby damaged area of the brain. This allows new connections in the brain
to be activated, thus recovering any damage occurring in specific regions.
Functional Recovery of the Brain after Trauma
The brain is often able to recover from trauma that is caused by physical injury or illness (e.g. stroke). This
is another example of neural plasticity. Unaffected areas of the brain are often able to adapt and compensate
for the areas that have been lost or damaged. Healthy brain areas may take over the functions of the areas
that have been affected. Neuroscientists suggest that this process can occur quickly after the trauma, but
then slow down after several weeks or months. The person may then require rehabilitative therapy to assist
their recovery.
How Does Brain Recovery Work?
The brain is able to reorganise and rewire itself by forming new synaptic connections close to the area of
damage. Secondary neural pathways that would not usually be used to carry out certain functions are
activated to enable functioning to continue, often in the same way as before. Support for this comes from
structural changes that are known to take place in the brain. Examples are:
 Axonal sprouting: The growth of new nerve endings which connect with other undamaged nerve
cells to form new neuronal pathways
 Reformation of blood vessels
 Recruitment of homologous (similar) areas on the other side of the brain to take over specific tasks
Evaluation of Plasticity and Functional Recovery of the Brain following Trauma
 Practical application : Our increased understanding in this area has contributed to the field of
neurorehabilitation. In other words, it has helped in the treatment of those who have suffered brain
trauma. The fact that we know that spontaneous brain recovery slows down after a few weeks,
means that we are aware of when it may be necessary to start physical therapy to maintain
improvements in functioning.
 Negative plasticity: The brain’s ability to rewire itself does not always have positive consequences.
Some adaptations may be maladaptive (unhelpful). Prolonged drug use, for example, has been
shown to result in poorer cognitive functioning as well as an increased risk of dementia in later life.
 Individual differences: Age& Gender: Functional plasticity tends to reduce with age, and this
therefore affects the speed of recovery.
 Individual differences: Education: Evidence suggests that the person’s level of educational
attainment will influence how well the brain recovers after trauma. Schneider (2014) found that the
more time brain injured patients had spent in education, (known as their cognitive reserve) the
greater their chances of a disability-free recovery.

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Plasticity and Functional Recovery of the Brain

What is Brain Plasticity?

also that it can recover after trauma.

change and develop, on a smaller scale, as a result of learning and experience.

existing ones in response to changing experiences.

to be activated, thus recovering any damage occurring in specific regions.

Functional Recovery of the Brain after Trauma

How Does Brain Recovery Work?

cells to form new neuronal pathways

 Reformation of blood vessels

Evaluation of Plasticity and Functional Recovery of the Brain following Trauma

therefore affects the speed of recovery.

greater their chances of a disability-free recovery.

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