The Brain’s Plasticity By: Nicole Harrell & Precious Newburn We will discuss the brain's plasticity after an illness or an injury.

Plasticity The brain is sculpted by our genes, as well as our experiences. This theory is proved by the studies of the brain’s plasticity. Plasticity is the brain’s ability to modify itself after some types of damage.

Plasticity Though, most brain functions seem pre- assigned to particular areas, most neural tissue can be reorganized in response to damage; the brain repairs itself often times after little mishaps. Plasticity is especially evident after serious damage.

Brain Plasticity Our brains are most plastic when we are children. If an injury or illness destroys a part or even an entire hemisphere of a child’s brain, the will put other surplus areas to work.

The Brain Invasion The brain has pre- assigned areas on the lobes called cortexes. If a body part is amputated, sensory fibers that terminate on adjacent areas of the sensory cortex may invade the cortex that’s no longer receiving sensory input.

The Brain Invasion cont. The hand is between the face and the arm regions on the sensory cortex. This explains that when stroking the face of someone who has an amputated hand, it proved that the person felt the sensations not only on his face, but also on his nonexistent fingers. Furthermore, when stroking the arm, sensory fibers had also invaded the brain area vacated by the hand.

Brain Modification Brain modification often takes the form of reorganization, but new evidence suggest that in two older brain regions, humans (as well as adult mice) can generate new brain cells. Master stem cells that can develop into any type of brain cell have also been discovered in the human embryo.