Plasticity of Brain

1 Topic 1 - Laiza

2 Topic 2 - Yashwi

3 Topic 3 - Chitvan

4 Topic 4 - Hitika

5 Topic 5 - Dhritismita
 Introduction to Neuroplasticity

- Definition of Neuroplasticity:
- Neuroplasticity is the brain's remarkable ability to change
and adapt in response to experiences.
- This process includes the reorganization, growth, or
modification of neural networks.

- Importance of Neuroplasticity:
- Essential for learning, memory, and recovery from brain
injuries.
- Involves both functional and structural changes within the
brain.
 Basic Concepts in Neuroplasticity
- Neurons and Their Role:
- Neurons are the building blocks of the brain
and nervous system.
- Neuroplasticity allows these nerve cells to
change and adjust in response to various stimuli.
- Understanding Plasticity:
- "Plasticity" refers to the brain's malleability—
not that the brain is plastic, but that it has the
ability to reorganize itself.
 Types of Neuroplasticity

- Functional Plasticity:
- The brain’s ability to move functions from damaged areas to undamaged areas.
- Example: After a stroke, other parts of the brain may compensate for lost
functions.
- Structural Plasticity:
- Refers to the brain’s capacity to change its physical structure in response to
learning and experiences.
- This includes the creation of new neurons and the strengthening of synaptic
connections.
 How Neuroplasticity Was Discovered

- Early Theories:
- Early beliefs held that the brain was "fixed" after childhood, with limited capacity for change.
- William James, in 1890, was among the first to suggest the brain's plasticity, though his ideas
were largely ignored.

- Modern Research:
- By the 1960s, studies began to explore cases in which older adults who had suffered
massive strokes were able to regain functioning, demonstrating that the brain was more
malleable than previously believed. Modern researchers have also found evidence that the
brain is able to rewire itself following damage.23Modern research has demonstrated that the
brain continues to create new neural pathways and alter existing ones in order to adapt to
new experiences.
 How Neuroplasticity Works

- Early Brain Development:

- At birth, neurons in the cerebral cortex have approximately 2,500 synapses.
- By age three, this number increases to about 15,000 synapses per neuron.
- Synaptic Pruning:
- As we gain new experiences, some neural connections are strengthened while
others are eliminated.
- This process is crucial for the brain’s adaptability and efficiency.
 Characteristics of Neuroplasticity

- Age and Environmental Influence:

- The brain’s plasticity is more prominent during early childhood but continues throughout life.
- Young brains are especially responsive to experiences, but adult brains also retain the ability to
adapt.

- Ongoing Process:
- Neuroplasticity involves not only neurons but also other brain cells, such as glial and vascular
cells.
- Continuous throughout life, driven by learning, experience, and memory formation.

- Limitations:
- While the brain can adapt to a great extent, certain functions are localized, and damage to
specific areas can lead to permanent deficits.
 Benefits of Neuroplasticity

- Learning and Cognitive Enhancement:

- Neuroplasticity allows us to learn new skills and improve existing cognitive
abilities.

- Recovery from Brain Injuries:

- Plays a critical role in recovering from strokes, traumatic brain injuries, and
other neurological damage.

- Strengthening Brain Function:

- Neuroplasticity supports the maintenance and enhancement of brain fitness.
 Problems with Brain Plasticity
- Negative Impacts:
- Neuroplasticity can sometimes lead to detrimental changes, such as those caused
by substance abuse or trauma.
- Conditions like PTSD or lead poisoning can negatively influence brain structure
and function.
- Medical Conditions That Limit Plasticity:
- Disorders such as epilepsy, cerebral palsy, and Fragile X syndrome can restrict
the brain’s ability to adapt and change.
 What is an example of neuroplasticity?

Research has found that children with blindness have increased connectivity and
reorganized neurocircuits when compared with children without this condition.25 This
suggests that the brain adapts to the inability to see by changing its structure and
function, providing children with blindness a greater ability to use the information
received from the other senses (such as hearing and touch
Structure of
Cerebral Cortex
The cerebral cortex is the outermost layer of the
brain, responsible for higher-order cognitive
functions such as thought, perception, language,
and voluntary movement. It is divided into two
hemispheres, left and right, and each hemisphere
is further divided into four lobes: frontal, parietal,
temporal, and occipital.
 The structure of Cerebral Cortex
1. Gyri and Sulci: The convoluted surface of the
brain is characterized by ridges (gyri) and
grooves (sulci). These folds increase the surface
area of the cortex, allowing for a greater number
of neurons and connections.
2. White Matter: Beneath the gray matter of the
cortex is white matter, composed of myelinated
axons that connect neurons from different regions
of the brain.
3. Corpus Callosum: A thick bundle of nerve fibers
that connects the left and right hemispheres of the
brain, allowing for communication and coordination
between them.
Lobes of Cerebral
Cortex
Frontal Lobe: Located at the front of the brain, it is
responsible for planning, decision-making, personality,
and voluntary movement.
Parietal Lobe: Located behind the frontal lobe, it
processes sensory information, including touch,
temperature, and pain.
Temporal Lobe: Located on the sides of the brain, it is
involved in hearing, language comprehension, memory
formation, and emotion.
Occipital Lobe: Located at the back of the brain, it is
primarily responsible for visual processing.
Lobes of Cerebral
Cortex
Frontal Lobe
Prefrontal Cortex: Responsible for executive functions such as planning, decision-making, problem-solving, and
personality.
Motor Cortex: Controls voluntary movements of the body.
Broca's Area: Located in the left hemisphere, it is involved in speech production.
Parietal Lobe
Somatosensory Cortex: Processes sensory information from the body, including touch, temperature, and pain.
Intraparietal Sulcus: Involved in spatial awareness, attention, and reaching movements.
Angular Gyrus: Plays a role in language comprehension, number processing, and spatial awareness.
Temporal Lobe
Auditory Cortex: Processes auditory information, including hearing and language comprehension.
Wernicke's Area: Located in the left hemisphere, it is involved in language comprehension.
Hippocampus: Plays a crucial role in memory formation and retrieval.
Amygdala: Involved in emotional processing, particularly fear and aggression.
Occipital Lobe
Primary Visual Cortex: Processes visual information from the eyes.
Visual Association Areas: Involved in higher-level visual processing, such as object recognition and facial
recognition.
Functions of
Cerebral Cortex
Sensory Processing
Motor Control
Cognitive Functions
Language
Memory
Emotional regulation
Perception
Consciousness and self-awareness
Language
Areas of the cerebral cortex, such as Broca's area and Wernicke's area, are
critical for language production and comprehension. Damage to these areas can
lead to language disorders like aphasia.

Memory
The cortex plays a significant role in storing and retrieving memories, especially in
the temporal lobe, which is closely linked with the hippocampus, a structure crucial
for forming new memories.
Emotional Regulation
The cerebral cortex, particularly the prefrontal cortex, is involved in regulating
emotions and responding to emotional stimuli. It helps in controlling impulses and
making decisions based on emotional information.

Perception
The cortex interprets and makes sense of the sensory information received from
the body, enabling perception and recognition of objects, faces, and
environments.
Consciousness and Self-awareness
The cerebral cortex is integral to our awareness of ourselves and our
environment. It contributes to consciousness and the ability to reflect on our
thoughts, actions, and experiences

Overall, the cerebral cortex is essential for almost all aspects of human
thought, behavior, and perception, making it a vital part of the brain's
function in everyday life
Lateralization of
Brain Functions
Brain Lateralization is specialization of the left
and right hemispheres of the brain for different
functions.

Dominance
Complementarity
Plasticity
 Evolutionary Significance

Increased Efficiency Enhanced Cognitive Abilities

Adaptation to
Social Interaction
Environmental Challenges
The Impact of Brain Lateralization
on Human Behaviour
Creativity
The right hemisphere is often associated with creativity, allowing us to think outside the
box and generate novel ideas.

Attention:
The left hemisphere is believed to be more involved in focused attention and detail-
oriented tasks, while the right hemisphere is associated with broader attention and a
more holistic perspective.

Problem-solving:
Both hemispheres contribute to problem-solving. The left hemisphere is often involved in
analytical and logical approaches, while the right hemisphere is associated with intuitive
and creative problem-solving strategies.
Empathy: Theory of Mind:
The right hemisphere is thought to play The ability to understand the thoughts
a crucial role in empathy, allowing us to and intentions of others, known as
understand and share the emotions of theory of mind, is influenced by
others. lateralization. The right hemisphere is
thought to be particularly important
Emotional Expression: for this ability.
The left hemisphere is often involved in
the expression of positive emotions, Social Cues:
while the right hemisphere is associated The right hemisphere is involved in
with the expression of negative processing social cues, such as facial
emotions. expressions and body language.

Emotional Regulation: Language: The left hemisphere is

Both hemispheres contribute to dominant for language processing,
emotional regulation, helping us to which is essential for social
manage our emotions effectively. communication.
 Localization of Brain function

Localization of function is the concept that specific areas of the brain are
responsible for particular cognitive, emotional, or behavioral functions. This
idea has been central to neuroscience for centuries and has been supported
by numerous studies
A Historical Perspective on Localization of
Brain Function

Ancient Egypt and Greece

Hippocrates: The "Father of Medicine," believed that the brain was the seat of
intelligence and sensation.
19th Century: Phrenology
Franz Gall and Johann Spurzheim: Developed phrenology, a
pseudoscience that claimed to determine a person's character
and abilities based on the shape of their skull. While phrenology
was ultimately discredited, it sparked interest in the idea of
localized brain functions.
 Modern Era

Paul Broca and Carl Wernicke: In the 19th century, these scientists identified
specific brain regions associated with language production and comprehension,
respectively.
Experimental Neuropsychology: The 20th century saw significant advances in the
study of brain-behavior relationships through experimental techniques.
Neuroimaging Techniques: The development of techniques like MRI, fMRI, and PET
scans in the 20th and 21st centuries has provided unprecedented insights into brain
structure and function.
 Localization vs. Distributed Processing: A Modern Perspective

The debate between localization and distributed processing in the brain has evolved
significantly since the early days of brain research. While classical theories often
emphasized localization of specific functions to particular brain regions,modern
neuroscience recognizes a more complex interplay between localized and distributed
processing.

Key Arguments for Localization:

Specific Function Areas: There is ample evidence for specific brain regions being
involved in particular functions.For example, Broca's area is associated with speech
production, and the hippocampus plays a crucial role in memory formation.
Neuroimaging Studies: Techniques like fMRI and PET scans have allowed researchers
to identify specific brain regions that are activated during various tasks.
 Key Arguments for Distributed Processing:

Neural Networks: The brain operates as a complex network of interconnected

neurons. Functions are not isolated to specific regions but emerge from the
interactions within these networks.

Plasticity: The brain is highly plastic, meaning it can reorganize itself in response to
experience or injury. This suggests a distributed system that can adapt to changing
circumstances.

Overlapping Functions: Many brain regions are involved in multiple functions,

suggesting a distributed rather than localized approach.
 Modern Perspective:

Integration of Both: Most neuroscientists now believe that both localization and
distributed processing are important. Specific brain regions may have specialized
functions, but these functions are often supported by broader networks.

Dynamic Networks: The brain is constantly forming and reforming dynamic

networks in response to stimuli and internal states. This highlights the importance
of both localization and distributed processing in understanding brain function.

Context-Dependent: The specific brain regions involved in a given task can vary
depending on the context,suggesting a more flexible and distributed approach.
 Case Studies

. Phineas Gage
Injury: A tamping iron was driven through his left frontal lobe in 1848.
Effects: Before the accident, Gage was known for his intelligence, industriousness, and
pleasant demeanor. After the injury, his personality underwent a dramatic shift, becoming
more impulsive, aggressive, and unreliable.
Significance: This case helped establish the link between the frontal lobe and personality,
decision-making, and social behavior.
 Henry Gaustav Molasan

Damage: Bilateral removal of the hippocampus and amygdala

Impact: Anterograde amnesia, unable to form new long-term memories but could
remember events before the surgery.
Conclusion: The hippocampus and amygdala are essential for consolidating new
memories.
Thank you!