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Neural Plasticity 2020

Neuroplasticity refers to the lifelong ability of the brain to reorganize and form new neural connections based on experiences. It occurs at both the microscopic level of individual neurons and synaptic connections, and the macroscopic level of neural networks and brain regions. Recovery from brain injury involves neuroplasticity mechanisms like resolution of damaged areas, spontaneous reorganization by taking advantage of intact regions, and rehabilitation to retrain skills. Behavioral plasticity also plays a role through relearning, facilitation of connections, and functional substitution or compensation. Neuroimaging studies show evidence of brain rerouting and reorganization supporting language recovery in aphasia, and that the type of language therapy impacts post-therapy brain recruitment patterns.

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208 views11 pages

Neural Plasticity 2020

Neuroplasticity refers to the lifelong ability of the brain to reorganize and form new neural connections based on experiences. It occurs at both the microscopic level of individual neurons and synaptic connections, and the macroscopic level of neural networks and brain regions. Recovery from brain injury involves neuroplasticity mechanisms like resolution of damaged areas, spontaneous reorganization by taking advantage of intact regions, and rehabilitation to retrain skills. Behavioral plasticity also plays a role through relearning, facilitation of connections, and functional substitution or compensation. Neuroimaging studies show evidence of brain rerouting and reorganization supporting language recovery in aphasia, and that the type of language therapy impacts post-therapy brain recruitment patterns.

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NEUROPLASTICITY

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Neuroplasticity
What is it????

 lifelong ability of the brain to reorganize neural


pathways based on new experiences.


Similarly, the neural circuitry in brain must reorganize
in response to sensory stimulation

2
Neuroplasticity- brain’s capacity to change at ......

Micro Macro
level level
Cellular / network Behavioral/system
level level

Behavioral
Neural Plasticity
Plasticity

Kolb (1995)
3
Neural Mechanisms
(Powell, 1981)
1. Resolution- Physical repair mechanism of the
penumbra area cells during the initial days.
2. Reorganization- neural mechanisms reorganize
impaired areas by taking advantage of the intact
regions spontaneously
3. Rehabilitation- extent to which person can be
retrained to perform a specific skill

4
Relationship between Recovery and Plasticity

Mechanisms of plasticity

Biochemical/ Structural Behavioral


physiologic (brain structure (function/
(cellular level) level) behavioral level)

NEURAL PLASTICITY BEHAVIORAL PLASTICITY

5
Biochemical and Physiologic Mechanisms of
recovery (cellular)
• Primary changes- (occur within a few days post injury)
– cell death, inflammation in the cell, cell degeneration
• Secondary changes- (continue to evolve over time)
structural and functional changes

Structural changes Functional changes


• Regenerative sprouting • Relatively ineffective
• Collateral regenerative synapses
sprouting • Denervation sensitivity
• Synapse potentials
6
Structural Mechanisms of Recovery
(the brain as a whole)
1. Resolution or regression of diaschisis (Cappa, 1998)- allowing brain
areas to function again
2. Restoration (Kleim & Schwerin, 2010)- reactivation of brain areas for
establishment of neural connectivity
3. Recruitment (Kleim & Schwerin, 2010)- enlisting of brain areas that
have capacity to contribute to the lost function; play a larger role in
the performance of the impaired function
4. Retraining (Kleim & Schwerin, 2010)- areas perform novel function
due to rehabilitation training
5. Functional takeover (Cappa, 1998)- Ex: undamaged areas in the
contralateral hemisphere take over functions (language)

7
Behavioral mechanisms of recovery
(through behavioral intervention)
1. Restitution- restoration- reactivation – through direct stimulation
(repetition), indirect stimulation( cueing strategies), deblocking
(elicitation of the target response through a different task or modality)
2. Reorganization- reconstitution- substitution- reroute parts of the
functional system without impeding the whole functional system
(ex: phonemic self-cueing strategy)
3. Relearning- relearn/reestablish lost items or information
4. Facilitation- reinforces the link between semantic representations
and phonological output
5. Functional substitution- functional reorganization- functional
compensation- (adaptation in the absence of actual recovery of
function), ex: use of gestures, lip reading, AAC devices
8
LANGUAGE RECOVERY IN THE BRAIN
• Neuroimaging studies provide evidence for patterns of rerouting
and functional reorganization

• Type of approach used during therapy appears to have an impact on post


therapy brain recruitment
• Increased right hemisphere activation during language task correlates with
language improvement
• Brain shows potential for long term plasticity
– intensive language therapy
• Short term brain plasticity
– right hemisphere contribution to aphasia recovery
• Bilateral hemispheric activation during language tasks
Plasticity as it relates to Aphasia Tx
• Language rehab can lead to physiological
change
• The nature of the tx influences the changes
– Both recovery and recruitment of related areas

10
Neuroscience to Neurorehabilitation

Kleim & Jones, 2008 (JSLHR)

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