DP Biology (last assessment 2024)
Question 19M.3.SL.TZ1.b
| Date | May 2019 | Marks available | [Maximum mark: 2] | Reference code | 19M.3.SL.TZ1.b |
| Level | SL | Paper | 3 | Time zone | TZ1 |
| Command term | Explain | Question number | b | Adapted from | N/A |
b.
[Maximum mark: 2]
19M.3.SL.TZ1.b
The scan shows the brain of a patient affected by a stroke. The dark patch labelled X represents an area where cells have died.
[Source: Case courtesy of Dr Ahmed Abdrabou, Radiopaedia.org, rID: 36865]
Explain how patient recovery from a stroke illustrates the property of neural plasticity.
[2]
Markscheme
a. «neural plasticity» is the ability to form new neural connections/synapses ✔
b. the area that is damaged by the stroke had a specific function ✔
c. other area of the brain can take on these functions ✔
Examiners report
The concept of neural plasticity was generally understood but not that new connections are made in areas other than that damaged by a stroke.
