Brain Plasticity: Adaptation and Recovery

Brain plasticity is the brain's ability to change and adapt throughout life, forming new neural

connections. Research shows this occurs in two ways: synaptic pruning, where unused connections

are eliminated, and synaptic formation, where new connections develop through learning and experience.

Maguire studied London taxi drivers and found their posterior hippocampus, responsible for

spatial navigation, was significantly larger compared to controls. This demonstrates

experience-dependent plasticity. Similarly, Draganski showed juggling practice

increased grey matter in the visual cortex, proving the brain physically adapts to new skills.

Functional recovery after trauma involves the brain reorganizing itself to compensate for damaged areas.