Memory
Neural Plasticity
The brain is always changing (in both structure and function
Our Brain's ability to change (neuron growth, change in function)
The ability to recover from injuries and Learn
Missing Body Parts
Cortical representation (In S1 and more) changes when part of a body is lost
If a finger is removed, The neurons start getting input from the adjacent ones
Phantom Limbs
Cortical plasticity can result in Phantom Limbs
Sensation that an amputated or missing limb is still there
60-80% of individuals with an amputation experience this
Can be useful to adapt to prosthetic limb
In Phantom Limb phenomena, people often report feeling pain from the
missing limb
51% experience pain when arm amputated; 70% if amputated leg
Can range from mild (itching) to intense (cramping/ bending unnaturally)
Why PAIN (& not another sense) is unknown
Mirrors and Limbs
Looking at existing limb through a mirror makes it seem like the missing limb
Visual feedback stimulates proprioceptive maps in cortex & creates sensation
of movement of the phantom limb
can relieve pain
Memory 1
, Rubber Hand Illusion
Can transfer bodily awareness to inanimate objects
Look at the rubber hand & hide the real one
Give both same sensations → 66% of people feel as if the rubber hand
belongs to them
Tool Use
We have no issue “feeling” things through inanimate objects and toolds →
extending our body schema to animate objects
Driving car, Blind men w cane
→ Implant innovations
Experience-dependent Plasticity
Neurons adapt depending on persons activity and enviornment
Ex: Monkeys were trained to do a task involving the tip of the index finger
& the cortical representation of that finger GREW!
Musicians often have asymmetric representations of fingers
Ex: Fused finger representation of bow hand of violinists
By 12 months old, infants become specialists in the sounds of their native
language
They lose the ability to hear sound contrasts that don’t matter to them
Owl monkeys were trained to discriminate small differences in frequencies
(5000, or 8000Hz)
After training, there was an increase in cortical area that responded to this
frequency
Cat V1 have tunning curve
But if raised in an environment with only vertical or horizontal lines, then
the ability to see the other goes away
Memory 2
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller daisycrawford007. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $10.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.