Plasticity

Submit Homework Collect all STAV exams Take down students names who have not completed these Put them on Learning catch up for tomorrow Pages 2-5 of Milesi’s Unit 4 Psych

Plasticity/ Neuroplasticity The brain is capable of learning throughout the lifespan because of its plasticity. Plasticity of the brain refers to the way it changes in response to stimulation from the environment. The process of plasticity occurs at the synaptic connections in the brain. Plasticity is necessary for learning to take place and is present throughout a healthy person’s lifetime. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELpfYCZa87g Mini lesson on Plasticity (by Andrew Scott) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKLqwNHzufk&list=PL2HjQdvOVbyZ5n d6zXOPT7w083FyVdx8t New way of studying

New set up of classes I will start giving you youtube clips to watch and study. The relevant pages and Every two days – Annotated Portfolio Activity Exam questions

Developmental Plasticity Developmental plasticity refers to change in the brain’s neural structure in response to experience during its growth and developmental. Predetermined, inherited One of the significant developmental changes after birth is infant brain forms far more synaptic connections Synaptogesis- the process of forming new synapses

Timing of Learning Experiences Although synaptogenesis , the formation of synapses occurs throughout a healthy person’s lifespan, a period of rapid synaptic creation occurs during early brain development Birth 2500 synapses Increasing to 15000 synapses at 3-4 (think about most critical time of learning)

Critical/sensitive Periods in developmental plasticity ‘Critical periods’ are the optimum times for the development of certain pathways in response to appropriate stimulation, e.g vision by 3 years, language at puberty by ten. The brain retains its ability to change itself physically and functionally as a result of learning at any age. (page 438-439)

Adaptive plasticity of the brain Adaptive plasticity refers to the brain’s ability to form new connections in order to recover or compensate for loss function and maximise remaining functions – i.e. traumatic head injury (Page 440-442)

Rerouting and Sprouting Rerouting when an undamaged neuron that has lost a connection with an active neuron may seek a new active neuron and connect with it instead Sprouting is the growth of new, bushier nerve fibers with more connections (involves rerouting as well)

Annotated Portfolio Activity 1 Watch the video of Brandi Answer all of the questions (part 1) You are allowed to use your text books and notes from Psych Notes Learning Activity relevant– 9.7 page 445