Chapter 6 - Brain Plasticity and Brain Injury

the ability of neural networks in the brain to change as a result of experience

the process of forming new synapses

the relatively permanent strengthening of synaptic connections as a result of repeated activation

the relatively permanent weakening of synaptic connections as a result of repeated low level activation

the elimination of unused synapses

a type of plasticity that involves brain changes that occur regardless of experience

a type of plasticity that involves brain development triggered by specific environmental cues that the brain expects to encounter at certain times

a type of plasticity that involves the unique and personal brain changes that take place when different situations occur

when healthy nearby neurons create alternative neural pathways when existing connections are lost through injury

when existing neurons form new axon terminals and dendrites to allow new connections to be made

an incurable condition that involves the progressive death of neurons

an injury resulting from damage to the brain occurring after birth, at any time during life

an injury that occurs when there is a sudden, physical trauma to the brain from an external force

an acquired language disorder resulting from damage to the language-processing centres of the brain

an acquired language disorder characterised by difficulty comprehending speech and producing meaningful sentences

an acquired language disorder characterised by difficulty producing fluent speech

a mild form of traumatic brain injury, resulting from an external force to the head or body that causes the brain to bounce inside the skull

an acquired brain injury involving an interruption to the blood supply in the brain or bleeding in the brain, resulting in deterioration of brain tissue

any disorder of the nervous system, including of the brain, spinal cord or nerves

a neuro degenerative disease linked to repeated impacts to the head

a protein required by cells for stability that can malfunction and build up within neurons disrupting important processes and disrupting communication with adjacent neurons

Headaches Inattentive and poor concentration Mild aggression Explosivity Mild memory dysfunction Mild depressive symptoms A finite number of isolated clusters of tau protein in specific parts of the brain

Cognitive and memory dysfunction increases Behavioural changes Aggression increases Explosivity increases Depression increases Suicidality Multiple clusters of tau protein

Cognitive and memory dysfunction Mild dementia Executive dysfunction (eg difficulty planning, problem solving, organising, managing time) Aggression increases Explosivity increases Depression increases Suicidality Moderate tau deposition Reduction in brain weight Mild atrophy of the brain