Neuroplasticity

Ability for neurons to:– Change their function– Chemical profile– Structure

Plasticity and the Human Brain

• Behavioral changes are accompanied by changes in the nervous system

• Neural Plasticity measured through: – Observable behavior– Cerebral maps– Synaptic organization

The Downside of Brain Plasticity

• Exposure to drugs produces alterations in dendritic length and spine density– Addiction and prefrontal morphology

• Intense Psychological Trauma (PTSD)

• Pathological pain

• Pathological response to sickness

• Psychological and therapeutic implications in management of these problems

A fibers and C fibers

Free nerve endings

Inflammatory Soup Following Nociceptive Stimuli + Tissue Damage

H+

CRPS

(innocuous stimuli are now painful)

(noxious stimuli are more painful)

Early Pain

Late Pain

Plasticity in Cortical Maps

Motor and sensory

maps can be altered by

experience

Plasticity in Synaptic Organization

• Neurons with more challenging tasks have more complex synaptic organization

© 2008 Jones Lab at UT AustinTheresa Jones PhD.The University of Texas at Austin Institute for Neuroscience

Problems of Non Use

Plasticity Physiological Organization

• Long-term potentiation– Enhanced synaptic

transmission after electrical stimulation of a cell

– Leads to changes in dendritic length and spine density

– 2nd messenger, gene expression, remodeling

– Model for learning occurs

Activity-dependent PlasticityGood News for Therapies!

• Brain remodels itself– capacity to retain

memories– enhance comprehension

and speech– improve motor function

• Application– Traumatic brain injury– Stroke– Parkinson– Aging ,etc.

Other ApplicationsHigher Education and Learninghttp://www.slideshare.net/smarkbarnes/brain-science-applying-neuroplasticity-

principles-to-higher-education-1340661

Stroke and Exercisehttp://greccaudio.geriu.org/112006/ExerciseStrokePreventMacko11-30-06.ppt

Painhttp://www.angelfire.com/journal2/sadhelp/np.htm

Depressionhttp://cpn.umc.edu/education/nssp/presentations/nssp07_cclark07.ppt

Learned contentment, happiness, lowered blood pressure and heart rate

Exercise and Brain Activities are Protective for Aging and Dementia

Virtual Reality, Computer Interface, Robotics

Principles of Activity-dependent Plasticity: Kleim & Jones

1. Use It or Lose It Failure to drive specific brain functions can lead to functional degradation.

2. Use It and Improve It Training that drives a specific brain function can lead to an enhancement of that function.

3. Specificity The nature of the training experience dictates the nature of the plasticity.

4. Repetition Matters Induction of plasticity requires sufficient repetition.

5. Intensity Matters Induction of plasticity requires sufficient training intensity.

Principles of Activity-dependent Plasticity : Kleim & Jones (continued)

6. Time Matters Different forms of plasticity occur at different times during training.

7. Salience Matters The training experience must be sufficiently salient to induce plasticity. (salient: the state or

quality of an item that stands out…)

8. Age Matters Training-induced plasticity occurs more readily in younger brains.

9. Transference Plasticity in response to one training experience can enhance the acquisition of similar behaviors.

10. Interference Plasticity in response to one experience can interfere with the acquisition of other behaviors.

Considerations for Neuroplasticity

• Nervous system is not hard wired, it can change

• Nervous system is adaptable (plastic) • Medical and Health Professionals can have positive

effect on Neuroplasticity

Review• Take a five minute session to walk around

with a different partner to summarize content covered in this section of the lecture

• What questions do you have?