Neuroplasticity
The ability of the brain to change throughout our lives, and how we relearn lost skills after a brain injury like TBI or a stroke.
What is Neuroplasticity?
This lobe plays a major role in memory, understanding spoken language, and recognizing familiar people and sounds.
What is the Temporal Lobe?
This healthy habit can reduce your risk of cognitive decline by up to 35% by improving blood flow to the brain.
What is exercise?
A sudden external force—such as a blow, jolt, or penetrating object to the head—defines this type of brain injury.
What is TBI?
These loyal companions can be adopted from the Humane Society, placed through foster care, or purchased from a breeder.
What are dogs?
As we age, this vital organ heals and rewires itself more slowly, which can prolong recovery.
What is the brain?
This lobe lets you feel a coin in your pocket and identify it without looking.
What is the Parietal lobe?
Because the brain is about 73% water, losing just 2% can lead to fatigue, poor focus, and a “foggy brain.”
What is not drinking enough water?
A common type of infection can cause sudden behavior changes—such as confusion or trouble completing familiar tasks—especially in adults aged 65 and older.
What is a UTI?
These are the most common coat colors you’ll see in dogs.
What are black, brown, white, and tan?
This example of an everyday activity strengthens thinking skills and builds new brain pathways by challenging memory, attention, and problem-solving—putting the “Use it to improve it” rule of neuroplasticity into action.
Possible examples:
What is journaling?
What is playing a card game?
What is “Constant Therapy”?
What is playing a board game?
This lobe processes what you see, allowing you to recognize shapes, colors, and movement.
What is the occipital lobe?
Chronic __________ can reduce brain size and even alter DNA, but building a collection of coping tools can help counter these changes.
What is chronic stress?
This medical condition affects the heart and blood vessels and can reduce blood flow to the brain, increasing the risk for stroke, memory problems, and cognitive decline.
What is Cardiovascular Disease?
This healthy vegetable is a safe and nutritious treat for many dogs.
Correct responses could include:
What are carrots?
What are green beans?
What is pumpkin?
What are peas?
What is a sweet potato?
Neuroplasticity allows your brain to do this - to create new pathways that reroute around injured areas in the brain.
This lobe is in charge of planning, decision-making, self-control, problem-solving, and expressive language.
What if the Frontal lobe?
This brain-boosting activity lowers the risk of dementia, improves mood, and strengthens thinking by engaging memory, attention, language, and emotion all at once.
What is social interaction?
This medical condition damages small blood vessels throughout the body, including those in the brain, increasing the risk for cognitive changes and stroke.
What is diabetes? OR What is high blood pressure?
These naturally sweet treats are safe and healthy for many dogs when given in small pieces.
Correct responses could include:
What are apples?
What are blueberries?
What are bananas?
What are strawberries?
What is watermelon?
This is important for neuroplasticity and can be defined as engaging in activities that are meaningful to you, which helps the brain heal by keeping you interested and encouraging you to practice again and again.
What is motivation?
This structure helps coordinate balance, posture, and smooth, accurate movements.
What is the cerebellum?
People in their 50s and 60s who get less than 6 hours of this each night are about 30% more likely to be diagnosed with dementia.
What is sleep?
This device helps keep oxygen levels where they should be during sleep, allowing the brain to consolidate, reorganize, and store memories properly.
What is a CPAP?
This category includes items like chocolate, onions, grapes, raisins, and avocados—foods that can make dogs very sick.
What are toxic foods for dogs?