What Is Brain Plasticity?

928 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Brain plasticity essays

According to Berlucci and Butchel (2009), plasticity describes an alteration in neural organization. Plasticity may be to blame for several types of behavior changes both short-term and permanent, such as growth, learning, injury, aging, and adaption to various settings. While several authors have attempted to more appropriately define the term, researchers are inclined to relate the theory to essentially any deviation found within the nervous system. Today, the method of behavior change can mostly likely be described by the alteration of synaptic transmission amongst neurons. William James was conceivably the initial pioneer in addressing the topic of brain plasticity from a contemporary viewpoint, as he showed an association between the …show more content…

He was intensely swayed by Santiago Cajal’s thoughts regarding the neural bases of the brain, subsequently offering a definitive perspective of the mechanism of mental associations depending upon newly formed associations between neurons. He also related the concept of plasticity and plastic activity with Tanzi’s hypothesis of the functional modifiability and Cajal’s concept of …show more content…

Further, his research of nervous degeneration and regeneration is quite familiar in the world of neuroscience today (Stahnisch and Nitsch, 2002). It is speculated that Cajal did not enjoy using the word plasticity, and therefore used the term cautiously (Berlucci and Butchel, 2009). It is even speculated that he adapted the term plasticity from Ioan Minea, a Russian neuroscientist. Additionally, it remains ambiguous as to how he intended the term to be used within in his work (Stahnisch and Nitsch, 2002).

Show More
Related

  • The Tragedy of the Trail of Tears

    1284 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hicks, Brain. The Holdouts. Smithsonian 41.11 (2011): 50-60. Academic Search Premier. Web. 8 Nov. 2013

    Read More

  • The Etiology and Treatment of Parkinson Disease

    2617 Words  | 6 Pages

    Merritt’s Textbook of Neurology. 7th ed. Lea and Febiger. Philadelphia: 1984. Walton, Sir John.

    Read More

  • Neural Plasticity And Memory Essay

    796 Words  | 2 Pages

    Out of the numerous fascinating concepts covered in this course I found that neural plasticity and memory were two of the most interesting and personally relevant topics. Neural plasticity involves the brains ability to reorganize neural circuits to better adapt to physical or environmental changes. This course primarily covered plasticity with regards to recovering from physical damage to the brain as well as the initial development of the brain and how environmental factors influence this process. With brain damaged victims, neural recovery is almost always apparent; this occurs through either the growth of new axons and dendrites if the cell body remains intact, or a heightened sensitivity of surviving neurons. When axons cannot regrow

    Read More

  • What Are The Advantages Of Lateralization Of The Brain?

    1432 Words  | 3 Pages

    After an injury, thanks to the mechanism of plasticity, reorganization of the sensory and motor systems occurs in multiple levels including the spinal cord, brainstem, thalamus and cortex (Chen, Cohen & Hallett, 2002). Furthermore, if the injury happens at a young age, the reorganization is even more extensive and determines a better recovery. Neuroplasticity and neurogenesis can still happen in adults, but they are less efficient and fast than in children. What happens after an hemispherectomy dramatically proves the resilience of the brain to extensive damage (Villablanca & Hovda, 2000). For example, “when an entire cerebral hemisphere is removed early postnatally in cats, the rest of the brain continues to grow and, in adulthood, the animals do not appear different from normal litter mates” (Villablanca & Hovda, 2000). Many experiments have been carried out to understand more about the consequences of hemispherectomies on the functional structure of the brain. Holloway, Gadian, Vargha-Khadem, Porter, Boyd and Connelly (2000) have studied the sensorimotor functions of the hemiplegic hand after hemispherectomy, and the results proved that all the patients with congenital disease had residual sensory function in the hand contralateral to the hemispherectomized side, while half of the patients had residual motor functions. In patients with acquired disease, 66% had residual sensory function while none

    Read More

  • Neurobiology

    520 Words  | 2 Pages

    Roger Sperry is one of the big Neurobiologists in the 1950’s. Sperry studied the relationship of the right and left hemispheres of the brain. In one of his experiments he flashed the word “Fork” in front of the patient. If the patient was asked to say the word he could not but if asked to right the word he would start to right the word “Fork”. This happed when the two brain hemispheres were disconnected from each other. At an another experiment he placed a toothbrush in the patients left hand and blind folded the patient and was asked to identify it they could not do it. But if placed in the right hand the patient would know right away what it was. That is just one of the types of study he did in his time.

    Read More

  • Neuroplasticity

    1643 Words  | 4 Pages

    Neuroplasticity Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s ability to remap itself in response to experience. The theory was first proposed by Psychologist William James who stated “Organic matter, especially nervous tissue, seems endowed with a very extraordinary degree of plasticity". Simply put, the brain has the ability to change. He used the word plasticity to identify the degree of difficulty involved in the process of change. He defined plasticity as ".the possession of a structure weak enough to yield to an influence, but strong enough not to yield all at once" (James, 1890).

    Read More

  • The Ecological Approach To Visual Perception

    540 Words  | 2 Pages

    As a prestigious neuroscientist and professor, Norden contributes tremendously to the involvement of humanity’s ability to understand the brain. Her background in neuroscience and the help of other researchers, allows for the development of her book and the message by which she conveys to the reader about the brain. Norden’s work is not only effective in her own research, but provides insight to a vital organ many take for

    Read More

  • Neuroplasticity: The Recovery Of Brain Injury

    183 Words  | 1 Pages

    Neuroplasticity is definitely a factor in recovery from brain injury. IN fact, it is the basis for much of our cognitive and physical rehabilitation practices. Part of rehabilitation is aimed at trying to rebuild connections among the nerve cells-or neurons. This “re-wiring” of the brain can make it possible for a function previously managed by a damaged area to be taken over by another undamaged area. The connections among the cells are infinitely receptive to this type of change and expansion.

    Read More

  • Ramachandran's The Perception Of Phantom Limbs

    789 Words  | 2 Pages

    In today’s scientific world, research studies are in constant process leading to new discoveries. Every scientific discovery is rooted off a simple foundation that is then elaborated through years of research by various professionals. Therefore, it is important to understand where a specific finding originated from and how it evolved over the years – acknowledging the story behind the story. In such manner, highlighting one of the well known neuroscience research is the study on the reorganization of an adult brain. This topic has been monitored for several centuries by various scientists. In particular, a neuroscientist named Vilayanur Subramanian Ramachandran is known for his breakthrough contribution on the study of the adult brain and its

    Read More

  • Henry Gustav Molaison Research Paper

    234 Words  | 1 Pages

    During the remaining 55 years of life, every time he met with a friend, every time he ate, or every time he walked in the woods, it was as if it were for the first time. And during those five decades, he was recognized as the most important patient in the history of neuroscience. As a participant in hundreds of studies, I help scientists understand the biology of learning, memory

    Read More

  • Summary Of Neuroscience: Exploring The Brain

    849 Words  | 2 Pages

    Over the summer of 2015, I worked at one of NYU’s neuroscience laboratories. From early July to mid August, I studied neuroscience from a textbook and many research articles that broadened my knowledge on the human brain and the human nervous system. I was loaned a neuroscience textbook called “Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain”. I used this textbook as my primary source of information.

    Read More

  • The Human Brain

    2065 Words  | 5 Pages

    The human body is divided into many different parts called organs. All of the parts are controlled by an organ called the brain, which is located in the head. The brain weighs about 2. 75 pounds, and has a whitish-pink appearance. The brain is made up of many cells, and is the control centre of the body. The brain flashes messages out to all the other parts of the body.

    Read More

  • Brain Plasticity Or Neuroplasticity?

    353 Words  | 1 Pages

    Brain plasticity, also known as neuroplasticity, is the ability of the neurons to alter their form or function in response to the environmental stimulation. Neurons operate in the brain’s circuitry along with other neurons; they can alter their function by changing the way they respond to inputs or influence other neurons through the strength of synaptic relationships.

    Read More

  • Neuroscience Paper

    233 Words  | 1 Pages

    With the introductions of new technology and the advancements of today's current technology, the field of neuroscience is growing rapidly. neuroscientists have opened up new doors to psychologists because of these many changes. It also gives an understanding of how the brain functions relate to an individual’s behavior. Being able to do research into the brains’ connection with behavior was considered impossible before MRI, but now scientists have the ability to observe brain activity (Cacioppo & Freberg, 2013 p. 131). Neuroscience is a new field of study because technology has opened up many new avenues of research.

    Read More

  • Research Reflection At The Hippocampus And The Lhb

    1144 Words  | 3 Pages

    The human body can be thought of as an intricate machine and the brain as the control panel. This complex organ that has kept scientists and philosophers involved over the centuries ultimately controls how we function. The brain, to me, is the most interesting thing in the universe. However, much is still undiscovered and therefore it intrigues us to learn more about this vital organ. My fascination with the brain arose while taking introductory biology and psychology courses. My deepened interest towards the neural basis of memory and learning and its impacts on neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s eventually lead me to attain an undergraduate research opportunity in the Mizumori laboratory.

    Read More

More about What Is Brain Plasticity?

Open Document