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Learning Engineering Applies the Learning Sciences
Published in Jim Goodell, Janet Kolodner, Learning Engineering Toolkit, 2023
Jim Goodell, Janet Kolodner, Aaron Kessler
We previously discussed how the brain is wired and how learning, in a sense, rewires your brain. Neuroplasticity, also known as brain plasticity or neural plasticity, is the ability of the brain to change throughout an individual’s life.30 At the single cell level, synaptic plasticity 31 refers to changes in the connections between neurons, whereas non-synaptic plasticity 32 refers to changes in their intrinsic excitability, for example, how responsive they are to the chemical signals they receive.33 The structure of the brain can change throughout life but may be more “plastic” during developmental periods from prenatal to early 20s. For more detailed explanations of what researchers have discovered about changes that occur with age and learning across the life span, see How People Learn II. 34
Cortical Plasticity
Published in Andrei I. Holodny, Functional Neuroimaging, 2019
Brain plasticity or cortical reorganization can be defined as follows: when a pathological process affects the function of one part of the brain, another part of the brain attempts to take over that function and succeeds at least partially. Until rather recently, it was thought that cortical reorganization essentially never occurred in the adult brain. It was believed that once the adult brain was formed, the number of neurons could only diminish and that once a part of the brain became damaged, the function supplanted by that part could never be restored.
Accenting the positive: Putting an affirmative spin on the BATHE technique
Published in Marian Stuart, Joseph Lieberman, The Fifteen Minute Hour, 2018
Marian Stuart, Joseph Lieberman
Studies have shown that people can improve their psychological well-being and positively affect their physical health by cultivating positive emotions at critical times to cope with negative emotions triggered by adverse conditions.11,12 Resilience can be fostered by promoting healthy adaptation strategies built on engaging positive emotions and relationships.13 As we have discussed earlier, there are bidirectional relationships between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. People can influence their emotions by changing their thoughts and/or behavior. Positive emotions can undo the physiological effects of negative emotions.14 Current research on brain plasticity shows that both the structure and the function of our brains are affected by how we react to the challenges in our lives and can be modified.15,16 Based on these findings, it would seem that interviews focusing on helping people recall positive events in their lives would be very beneficial in promoting positive affect and lead to a sense of well-being. Actually, this technique has been successfully used in organizational development.
Visual factors associated with physical activity in schoolchildren
Published in Clinical and Experimental Optometry, 2023
Síofra Harrington, John Kearney, Veronica O’Dwyer
Recent research identified children with amblyopia had lower athletic competence (aiming and catching skills) than controls.35 Similarly, in the present study, participants with amblyopia were almost six times more likely to report no physical activity than participants without amblyopia. Indeed, participants successfully treated for amblyopia were five times more likely to be regularly physically active than amblyopic participants. Binocular vision is essential for dynamic sports,23 and amblyopic children will have very poor or no stereoacuity; hence, amblyopic participants are less likely to excel in some sporting activities. Moreover, amblyopic adults are more likely to avoid visually demanding sports due to issues catching a ball and balance.11 However, physical activity improves brain plasticity.36
Longitudinal changes of motor cortex function during motor recovery after stroke
Published in Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation, 2023
Li Chunyong, Li Yingkai, Liu Fuda, Che Jiang, Yan Liu
Stroke has the highest morbidity and mortality rates in the developed world. Most patients have different degrees of brain dysfunction; approximately 65%~80% of stroke patients experience dyskinesia.1 Neuroplasticity includes changes in the structure and function of the central nervous system after injury and changes in “activity” modification.2 Neuroplasticity plays an important role in the recovery of nerve function after stroke and can compensate for the loss of motor function after stroke. Many studies involving human and animal models have shown that the central nervous system promotes motor recovery after brain injury through brain functional reorganization, which is not only limited to the preserved region of the injured hemisphere but also occurs in the isotonic region of the intact hemisphere.3 Brain plasticity can occur spontaneously after brain injury, and rehabilitation training can modify and promote this neuroplasticity process.4
Task Oriented Training Activities Post Stroke Will Produce Measurable Alterations in Brain Plasticity Concurrent with Skill Improvement
Published in Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation, 2022
Somchanok Rungseethanakul, Jarugool Tretriluxana, Pagamas Piriyaprasarth, Narawut Pakaprot, Khanitha Jitaree, Suradej Tretriluxana, Jerome V. Danoff
Brain plasticity was indicated by alterations in CE. Peak-to-peak motor evoked potential (MEP) (µV) which represented the CE. The CE of the motor representation for extensor digitorum communis (EDC), wrist flexor, triceps brachii, and biceps brachii muscles of the paretic UE stimulation of the non-lesioned hemisphere and lesioned hemisphere were measured in a fixed order using a single-pulse TMS (Magstim 200, Magstim Co., Dyfed, UK) through a figure of eight coil. The coil was placed on the representational area of M1 and stimulated at 120% of the threshold intensity in the target muscle. Determining CE required electromyographic recording (Medelec Synergy EMG/EP, © VIASYS HealthCare Inc., 2005 UK). The researcher started by measuring the resting motor threshold (rMT) of the non-lesioned hemisphere. The rMT referred to the lowest intensity needed to induce MEPs of 50 μv peak-to-peak amplitude. The rMT was determined in the target muscle in 50% of the stimulation trials. The peak-to-peak MEP amplitude was determined ten times at 120% of rMT. The average amplitude was calculated for each site of stimulation.