NeuroTalk Support Groups - Neuroplasticity

NeuroTalk Support Groups (https://www.neurotalk.org/)

- Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome (https://www.neurotalk.org/traumatic-brain-injury-and-post-concussion-syndrome/)

- - Neuroplasticity (https://www.neurotalk.org/traumatic-brain-injury-and-post-concussion-syndrome/189366-neuroplasticity.html)

I am fascinated by the research being done in the field of neuroplasicity. The Brain that Changes Itself and Changing Your Mind are two documentaries that are a must see for anyone interested in the subject. This new research gives much hope to those of us struggling with the effects of PCS and MTBI, as it demonstrates that the brain has the remarkable ability to rewire itself.

http://www.cbc.ca/player/Shows/Shows...ID/1233752028/

http://www.cbc.ca/player/shows/ID/2332409695/

The field of neuroplasticity has shown great things. What they fail to describe is the difference between enhancing/strengthening under developed functions in the brain versus overcoming damaged functions. The promotions make it sound like the brain can rewire around severely damaged areas. Often, these improved functions are due to strengthening under-developed functions.

The hope it gives the brain injured is that they can learn new tricks even when their brain is old an damaged.

Better understanding of neuroplasticity over the last decade or so has shown promise for developing rehabilitation techniques for stroke patients and other forms of ABI as well as for TBI. When I was in speech and occupational therapy, I would sometimes ask myself “why are they making me play these games?”. Now I can better understand that these mental gymnastics help to rebuild the neuro pathways. Or as stated by Canadian neuropsychologist Donald Hebb in 1949, “Neurons that fire together wire together.”

There are number of good references that touch on this subject. Train your Mind, Change your Brain (Sharon Begley, 2007), follows from a forum where leading neurologists and neuroscientists attended a conference with the Dalai Lama on how Buddhist meditation techniques (applied in the West as mindfulness meditation) can effect brain changes.

A leading physician and neuroscientist Daniel Segal MD had a couple books out: Mindsight, New Science of Personal Transformation (2010) and Pocket Guide to Neurobiology, (2012) that I found both accessible and informative.