Question

Which of the following are examples of negative brain plasticity? (Note: You will

choose more than 1.)

1- the human brain has shrank in size due to changes in how we live (accessing
food, housing, etc.).

2- the fact it is easier for children to learn new things than adults.

3. losing a chunk of brain the size of a tennis ball over the last 20,000 years.

4- The fact that negative habits, addictions, and negative self-talk are very difficult
to change.

Answer 1

Negative neuroplasticity. Environmental factors that decrease cognitive reserve, inhibits neuronal connections and causes sparse neuronal connections. The result if that over time the brain becomes less efficient.A lot of the ways in which our brain function degrades that we typically think of as part of “just getting old” is really negative neuroplastic change. As people grow older, they unknowingly contribute to their brain's decline by not using and challenging it as much. For example, a person retires from work.Both positive neuroplasticity and negative neuroplasticity refer to the actual morphological and neurochemical changes that occur in the nervous system and brain between neurons in response to adapting to environmental demands or press (Figure 1; Vance & Crowe, 2006; Vance, Roberson, McGuiness, & Fazeli, 2010).