Neural Plasticity Paper
PSY/340
03/28/2016
Mark Schmitz
Neural Plasticity Paper
Neuroplasticity defines how our brain is capable of changing and adapting to our surroundings. Things that affect our changes include our environment and interactions with others. Our brain develops axons that make connections to other cells in our brain that allow us to adapt to changes that occur. Neuroplasticity can play a significant role in our patient Robert, who suffered a traumatic brain injury. There is two function that will help Robert. They are recovery and compensation. Robert’s recovery will need to meet two stages to process the recovery. These two stages are spontaneous recovery and retain training. There are limitations to neuroplasticity. Parts of the damage in Robert’s brain will heal on its own, and the others will need help from the outside such as doctors and therapists. “Neuroplasticity provides us with a brain that can adapt not only to changes inflicted by damage but allows adaption to any and all experiences and changes we may encounter.” (Childhood Trauma Recovery, 2016)
Functions of neural plasticity
Neural plasticity is the re-learning of brain functions. When undergoing neural plasticity after traumatic brain injury, you can take advantage of the neural pathways originally formed when learning functions. In many instances, there will be a hemispheric imbalance. The hemisphere of the brain where the injury occurred often suffers from a reduction in neuronal communications. Therefore, the remaining hemisphere compensates by over-activity of brain function in said hemisphere. There are two functions of the brain that facilitate the functional improvement after traumatic brain injury. They are recovery and compensation. Recovery refers to the brain’s ability to restore neural tissue, movement, and activity exactly as it was before the injury. Compensation refers to the recruitment of new neural circuits, training of...