Neuroplasticity
IB Psychologyยท Biological approachยท 14 min read
1. Core concept
Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to change its structure and connections in response to experience โ strengthening pathways that are used, pruning those that are not, and sometimes reassigning functions after damage or deprivation. It shows the brain is shaped by environment rather than fixed at birth, which is why enriched or deprived experience leaves physical traces in the tissue.
2. Key studies
IB Psychology answers must be supported by named studies. Learn these to cite as evidence:
Blakemore & Cooper (1970)
Kittens raised seeing only vertical (or only horizontal) lines developed visual cortices tuned to that orientation and were behaviourally 'blind' to the other. โ Experience physically shapes cortical wiring โ experience-dependent plasticity.
Bach-y-Rita et al. (1969)
Blind participants using a 'tactile television' that turned camera images into vibrations on the back learned to recognise objects and located them in external space. โ Sensory substitution โ the brain reorganises to perform a visual task through touch.
3. Evaluation (AO3)
Strength โ converging evidence & application โ Animal and human studies agree, and plasticity underpins rehabilitation after brain injury.
Limitation โ bounded, and animal-heavy โ The strongest invasive evidence is animal or small-N, and plasticity has limits: critical periods mean deprivation past a window may not reverse (cf. Genie).
4. Scope
5. Common Pitfalls
Wrong move:
Plasticity means the adult brain can rewire without limit, at any time.
Why:
A frequently penalised misconception in IB Psychology exams.
Correct move:
Plasticity is real but bounded โ greatest in development, constrained by critical periods, and slower or only partial in adults.
Going deeper
- Localization of functionplasticity is the counter-pole to strict localization (BIO_7).
- Brain development (maturation & critical periods)critical periods and pruning in development are Human development (Werker, Genie).