Neuroplasticity

An interesting phenomena observed in human beings is the ability of the brain to develop compensatory mechanisms in the aftermath of injury. This is referred to as neuroplasticity. What it actually means is that neurons form new connections to allow the person concerned respond to their environment. There are evidences suggesting that in the case of damage to one of the hemispheres the other hemisphere might take over some of its functions. Clinical cases endorse that when cortical areas are stimulated through activities, changes appear at the behavioural level over time. Studies suggest that the brain undergoes physical change due to learning and other experiences. The same mechanism helps those with brain damage to recover functions.

Two mechanisms have been suggested that underlie neuroplasticity in the aftermath of brain injuries— diaschisis and functional reorganization. Diaschisis is a condition of depression of activity at those distant non-damaged sites that are functionally connected to the area of lesion. These areas resume functioning as the areas without lesion gets reconnected to other areas. On the other hand, functional reorganization refers to a compensatory process wherein the neural circuits surviving injury gets reorganized (Luria, 1973).