Neuroplasticity (DP IB Psychology)

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  • What is neuroplasticity?

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  • What is neuroplasticity?

    Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s ability to adapt to change, be that from injury, damage done due to illness, or changes brought about due to learning and experience.

  • Define structural plasticity

    Structural plasticity refers to changes within brain structures (e.g. the hippocampus) due to learning experienced over time - it does not happen immediately.

  • What is functional plasticity?

    Functional plasticity (also known as functional recovery) refers to the brain’s ability to replace lost or damaged functions by using existing brain regions in their place.

  • True or False?

    A good example of neuroplasticity is a person in their 60s who has been practising meditation for decades will have increased grey matter in their prefrontal cortex as a result of their practice.

    True.

    A good example of neuroplasticity is a person in their 60s who has been practising meditation for decades will have increased grey matter in their prefrontal cortex as a result of their practice.

  • What does Maguire's (2000) study show about neuroplasticity?

    Maguire's (2000) study showed that years spent as a black cab driver in London may result in increased grey matter in the posterior hippocampus.

  • True or False?

    Luby et al. (2013) showed that poverty in childhood was associated with increased grey matter in the hippocampus and amygdala.

    False.

    Luby et al. (2013) showed that poverty in childhood was associated with reduced grey matter in the hippocampus and amygdala.

  • How does the Rauscher et al. (1993) 'Mozart effect' research support neuroplasticity?

    The Rauscher et al. (1993) ‘Mozart effect’ research supports neuroplasticity as it linked listening to a specific Mozart sonata with functional recovery.

  • True or False?

    A limitation of the Rauscher et al. (1993) research is that replications of the original study have shown that it is very successful in functional recovery when applied to the field of visual art.

    False.

    A strength of the Rauscher et al. (1993) research is that replications of the original study have shown that it is very successful in functional recovery when applied to the field of visual art.

  • Why is it a limitation of the Maguire (2000) study that the sample size is 16?

    It is a limitation of the Maguire (2000) study that the sample size is 16, as this is too small to generate robust results.

  • Why is it a limitation in the Luby et al. (2013) study that some of the children in the study had pre-existing depression?

    It is a limitation of the Luby et al. (2013) study that some of the children in the study had pre-existing depression, as this may have influenced brain development outside of the variable of poverty.

  • What is the aim of Maguire's (2000) study in relation to neuroplasticity?

    The aim of Maguire's (2000) study is to investigate neuroplasticity in London black cab taxi drivers as a result of experience in spatial navigation.

  • In the Maguire (2000) study, how is neuroplasticity measured?

    In the Maguire (2000) study, neuroplasticity is measured through using an MRI to scan the participants brains. The MRI measured the volume of grey matter in the hippocampus. Grey matter was measured using voxel-based morphemetry (VBM) which focuses on the density of grey matter and pixel counting.

  • In Maguire's (2000) study, which type of correlation is found between the volume of grey matter in the posterior hippocampus and time spent as a taxi driver?

    In Maguire's (2000) study, a positive correlation is found between the volume of grey matter in the posterior hippocampus and time spent as a taxi driver.

  • How do the findings of the Maguire (2000) study support neuroplasticity?

    The findings of the Maguire (2000) study supports neuroplasticity as it suggests that spatial navigation skills learnt from the environment are linked to changes in the brain, particularly the posterior hippocampus.

  • Why is it a strength of Maguire (2000)'s study that it used a highly controlled clinical method of obtaining objective data?

    It is a strength of Maguire's (2000) study that it used a highly controlled clinical method of obtaining objective data because this could then be easily compared and analysed.

  • Why is it a limitation of Maguire (2000)'s study that a correlation cannot show cause-and-effect?

    It is a limitation of Maguire's (2000) study that a correlation cannot show cause-and-effect because it is impossible to know if the increase in hippocampal grey matter is due to being a taxi driver, or if they naturally had high levels anyway.

  • What is the aim of Luby et al. (2013)'s study in relation to neuroplasticity?

    The aim of Luby et al. (2013)'s study in relation to neuroplasticity is to investigate whether poverty experienced in childhood is shown in delayed brain development and the extent to which mediating factors may influence early deprivation.

  • In the Luby et al. (2013) study, how is neuroplasticity measured?

    In the Luby et al. (2013) study, neuroplasticity is measured by each child having two MRI scans in which the whole brain is scanned, or just the hippocampus and the amygdala.

  • True or False?

    Luby et al. (2013) found that poverty does not appear to have a negative effect on brain development in childhood, which is evidence against neuroplasticity.

    False.

    Luby et al. (2013) found that poverty does appear to have a negative effect on brain development in childhood, which is evidence for neuroplasticity.

  • Why is it a strength of Luby et al.'s (2013) study that the researchers were able to check the behavioural, cognitive, and social measures against the MRI results?

    It is a strength of Luby et al.'s (2013) study that the researchers were able to check the behavioural, cognitive, and social measures against the MRI results because it increases the internal validity of the study.

  • Why is it a limitation in Luby et al.'s (2013) study that attempting to measure complex variables (e.g. nature of caregiving, social skills) is difficult?

    It is a limitation in Luby et al.'s (2013) study that attempting to measure complex variables (e.g. nature of caregiving, social skills) is difficult, because these variables are not exact and may be prone to researchers interpreting them in subjective ways.

  • What are neural networks?

    Neural networks are a group (a network) of neurons that are interlinked and connected which combine to produce a specific neurological function or process e.g. learning a new language; spatial navigation.

  • What is neural pruning?

    Neural pruning refers to the process carried out by the brain in order to increase its efficiency. Synapses and neurons that are no longer used or needed are eliminated by the brain. Neural pruning is a key function of neuroplasticity as it is involved in the pruning of neural networks and neurons.

  • True or False?

    Neural branching and neural pruning in the brain are the same process.

    False.

    Neural branching and neural pruning are not the same process.

    (Neural pruning occurs when the brain gets rid of neurons and connections no longer required, whereas neural branching occurs when new synaptic connections are made.)

  • Which research study on spatial navigation provides evidence of neuroplasticity and neural networks?

    Maguire's (2000) research study on spatial navigation provides evidence of neuroplasticity and neural networks.

  • Which research study involving juggling demonstrates evidence of neuroplasticity and neural pruning?

    Draganski et al.'s (2004) research study involving juggling demonstrates evidence of neuroplasticity and neural pruning.

  • Which research study found that neural pruning occurs frequently and rapidly in children from birth?

    Gotgay et al.'s (2004) research study found that neural pruning occurs frequently and rapidly in children from birth.

  • True or False?

    The participants in the Maguire (2000) study are 16 male bus drivers in London.

    False.

    The participants in the Maguire (2000) study are 16 male black cab taxi drivers in London.

  • What is the aim of Maguire's (2000) study in relation to neural networks?

    The aim of the Maguire (2000) study is investigate how neural networks form as a result of spatial navigation in London black cab taxi drivers.

  • What is the procedure of the Maguire (2000)'s study?

    The procedure of the Maguire (2000) study:

    • The taxi driver's brains are scanned using an MRI to measure the volume of grey matter in the hippocampus

    • The scans are compared to pre-existing scans of 50 healthy, right-handed males (the control group)

  • True or False?

    The anterior hippocampus of the taxi drivers showed a greater volume of grey matter than that of the controls, who had increased grey matter in their anterior hippocampus.

    False.

    The anterior hippocampus of the taxi drivers showed a greater volume of grey matter than that of the controls, who had increased grey matter in their posterior hippocampus.

  • What is the conclusion of Maguire's (2000) study in relation to neural networks?

    The conclusion of the Maguire (2000) study is that spatial navigational skills learnt through experience are linked to a specific neural network formed in the posterior hippocampus.

  • True or False?

    The aim of Draganski et al.'s (2004) study is to investigate whether neural networks in the brain occur in response to learning and then stopping go-karting.

    False.

    The aim of Draganski et al.'s (2004) study is to investigate whether neural networks in the brain occur in response to learning and then stopping juggling.

  • Who are the participants in Draganski et al.'s (2004) study?

    The participants in Draganski et al.'s (2004) study are:

    • a self-selected sample of 24 adults

    • aged 20-24 years old (21 female; 3 male)

    • no prior experience of juggling

  • What is the procedure of the Draganski et al. (2004)'s study?

    The procedure of the Draganski et al. (2004)'s study:

    • 2 conditions: jugglers or non-jugglers

    • after an initial MRI scan, jugglers practice a routine and have a second MRI scan

    • jugglers are told not to practice, then have an MRI scan 3 months after

    • non-jugglers have 3 separate MRI scans

  • What are the findings of the Draganski et al. (2004) study?

    The findings of the Draganski et al. (2004) study:

    • MRI scans of the juggling participants showed significantly more grey matter in their mid-temporal cortex in both hemispheres

    • Three months after the jugglers stopped practising, the amount of grey matter decreased

    • The non-jugglers’ brains showed no brain changes from the first to the final scan

  • How does the Draganski et al. (2004) study provide research support for neural networks and pruning?

    The Draganski et al. (2004) study provide research support for neural pruning as it suggests that neural networks form (increase in grey matter) due to environmental demands (learning to juggle), and shrinks due in the absence of learning (stopping juggling).