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Old 08-26-2014, 10:49 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by markneil1212 View Post
thanks for the extra info. I wonder, even if they could be created on a large scale, what about the damaged ones? the damage to my thalamus causes all kinds of autonomic problems. Wouldn't those old cells have to be disposed of as well as new ones being created.

And for a function like sleep, wouldn't the different brain parts have to learn how to communicate with each other correctly?

I guess that's why some say to focus on dealing with the symptoms if you're an old timer. New timers still have time to be great again.
I'm not a neuroscientist but as I understand it, neuroplasticity more involves reestablishing neural pathways and connections that it does generating new neurons. So the connections bypass the damaged ones and reestablish new ones.

Some interesting discussions and fascinating case studies are in the book "The Brain that Changes Itself" by Norman Doidge, M.D.
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What Happened: On November 29, 2010, I was walking across the street and was hit by a light rail commuter train. Result was a severe traumatic brain injury and multiple fractures (skull, pelvis, ribs). Total hospital stay was two months, one in ICU followed by an additional month in neuro-rehab. Upon hospital discharge, neurological testing revealed deficits in short term memory, executive functioning, and spatial recognition.

Today: Neuropsychological examination five months post-accident indicated a return to normal cognitive functioning, and I returned to work approximately 6 months after the accident. I am grateful to be alive and am looking forward to enjoying the rest of my life.
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