Final answer:
The brain's capability to adapt and recover from damage is known as neuroplasticity, which plays a crucial role in healing from various brain injuries through processes such as creating new synaptic connections and neurogenesis. Recovery may involve therapies that capitalize on the brain's plasticity to restore lost functions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The brain's ability to adapt and repair itself after damage is referred to as neuroplasticity. This remarkable capability of the nervous system allows it to change and adapt in response to experiences, development, or injury. Neuroplasticity involves a range of processes that include the formation of new synapses, synaptic pruning, alterations in glial cells, and sometimes neurogenesis, the birth of new neurons. It's essential in recovery from brain injuries such as those sustained by ABC reporter Bob Woodruff, who made a significant recovery through intensive cognitive and speech therapy after a brain injury caused by a bomb explosion.
Mild brain injuries like concussions typically heal on their own, whereas more severe brain injuries can result in permanent physical and mental disabilities. Symptoms of severe brain injuries can include prolonged unconsciousness, confusion, and a range of cognitive impairments, which may be addressed through treatments such as medication and various forms of therapy. In cases of stroke, too, the nervous system's adaptability can facilitate recovery through therapies that help patients relearn lost functions.