Plasticity defined
The ability of the nervous system to show modification in its structure and function
Plasticity
Mechanism of learning occurring in the interactions between climbing fiber, parallel fiber and purkinje cell
Long-term Depression
Injured axons that begin new sprouting
Regenerative synaptogenesis
Induction of plasticity requires sufficient training intensity
Intensity matters
Physical therapy practice based on neuroplasticity principles, motor learning and systems theories
contemporary task-oriented practice
Physiologic mechanisms occurring spontaneously after CNS injury that contribute to recovery of function
Spontaneous recovery
Sustained increase in synaptic strength at the post-synaptic receptor even after the stimulus is removed
Long-term Potentiation
The postsynaptic target becomes more sensitive to NT produced in lower concentration
denervation super sensitivity
Failure to drive specific brain functions can lead to functional degradation
Use it or lose it
Patients with SCI learn to walk using a treadmill, an overhead lift for BWS, and therapists to assist the legs
Body-weight Supported Treadmill Training
Capacity of the CNS to undergo changes based on activity-dependant functions
Activity-dependant Neuroplasticity
Decrease in number of synaptic connections
Long term habituation
Drugs that promote resolution of diaschisis
Amphetamines
Plasticity in response to one training experience can enhance the acquisition of similar behaviors
Transference
Patients with stroke learn to use affected arm when forced through immobilization of the unaffected arm
Constraint Induced Movement Therapy
Nervous system recovery is not possible if higher centers are lesioned
Hierarchical Model
Shift from increased activation of premotor areas to greater activation of SMA areas
Shift from explicit to implicit learning/shift to automacity during learning
Plasticity in Braille readers
Cross-modality plasticity
The nature of the training experience dictates the nature of the plasticity
Specificity
Type of practice used in CIMT
Massed and Blocked
Learning from daily behaviors can reorganize the damaged brain even in the absence of rehabilitation
Compensatory behavioral strategies (Kliem reference)
depriving a kitten’s eye of light reduced the number of neurons in the visual cortex that responded to light
Evidence for use it or lose it principle (Kliem reference)
When cats with complete midthoracic spinal transections were trained either to stand or to step on a treadmill, each group learned its respective task. Neither group, however, could perform the nontrained, alternate task
Task-specificity (Behrman reference)
The principle of ED-NP that is facilitated when using Virtual Reality for rehabilitation
Salience Matters
Patient begins to compensate for difficulty in use of impaired limb by increased reliance on the intact limb
Learned non-use due to positive reinforcement (Taub reference)