Comments on: Brain Plasticity: How learning changes your brain http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/26/brain-plasticity-how-learning-changes-your-brain/ Your Brain Fitness Center Sat, 05 Jul 2008 22:54:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: Alvaro http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/26/brain-plasticity-how-learning-changes-your-brain/#comment-170580 Mon, 30 Jun 2008 21:21:18 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/26/brain-plasticity-how-learning-changes-your-brain/#comment-170580 Hello Melody, Theoretically, yes, of course (neuroplasticity is the premise for learning itself) but research is just emerging in trauma-related areas. Some very promising applications: - Cognitive therapy for depression and OCD - Computerized cognitive training for stroke/ TBI rehab There is research going on focused on schizophrenia. We are not aware of specific trials on patients with bipolar disorder. In general, I'd say: Stay Tuned. There will be a good number of applications related to clinical conditions. But the field is emerging-no magic cures today. Regards Hello Melody,

Theoretically, yes, of course (neuroplasticity is the premise for learning itself) but research is just emerging in trauma-related areas.

Some very promising applications:
- Cognitive therapy for depression and OCD
- Computerized cognitive training for stroke/ TBI rehab

There is research going on focused on schizophrenia. We are not aware of specific trials on patients with bipolar disorder.

In general, I'd say: Stay Tuned. There will be a good number of applications related to clinical conditions. But the field is emerging-no magic cures today.

Regards

]]> by: Melody http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/26/brain-plasticity-how-learning-changes-your-brain/#comment-170331 Sun, 29 Jun 2008 23:59:10 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/26/brain-plasticity-how-learning-changes-your-brain/#comment-170331 I am in a Lifespan Psychology class right now, and we are studying brain plasticity. I would like to know if the brain can make new neural connections to overcome trauma, can it also do the same, with training, to overcome certain mental illnesses, such as depression, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder? I am in a Lifespan Psychology class right now, and we are studying brain plasticity. I would like to know if the brain can make new neural connections to overcome trauma, can it also do the same, with training, to overcome certain mental illnesses, such as depression, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder?

]]> by: Padma http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/26/brain-plasticity-how-learning-changes-your-brain/#comment-161281 Thu, 22 May 2008 23:32:32 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/26/brain-plasticity-how-learning-changes-your-brain/#comment-161281 Debbie Get the wonderful book of Dr.Jill Bolte Taylor who is a neuroanatomist and had a stroke at 37, recovered completely and advocates passionately treatment strategies forstork patients and their carers. It is called "My Stroke of insight" Her website www.drjilltaylor.com Goodluck Debbie
Get the wonderful book of Dr.Jill Bolte Taylor who is a neuroanatomist and had a stroke at 37, recovered completely and advocates passionately treatment strategies forstork patients and their carers. It is called "My Stroke of insight" Her website www.drjilltaylor.com
Goodluck

]]> by: Alvaro http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/26/brain-plasticity-how-learning-changes-your-brain/#comment-154796 Sun, 27 Apr 2008 23:36:43 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/26/brain-plasticity-how-learning-changes-your-brain/#comment-154796 Hello Debbie, Your friend's neuropsychologist would be the ideal person to suggest what specific physical and mental activities ca help the rehabilitation process. No two strokes affect the same areas. I hope she gets better. You may enjoy the superb book by the Woodruffs, In an Instant: A Family's Journey of Love and Healing (Hardcover) Hello Debbie,

Your friend's neuropsychologist would be the ideal person to suggest what specific physical and mental activities ca help the rehabilitation process. No two strokes affect the same areas.

I hope she gets better. You may enjoy the superb book by the Woodruffs,
In an Instant: A Family's Journey of Love and Healing (Hardcover)

]]> by: Debbie http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/26/brain-plasticity-how-learning-changes-your-brain/#comment-154275 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 00:49:47 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/26/brain-plasticity-how-learning-changes-your-brain/#comment-154275 I have a friend who is barely 40 & had 2 strokes (clots). It has been 5 years. Her left side is paralyzed. Then I saw a PBS show on neuroplasticity. Is there some kind of PT or other program I can do with her to help her brain re-learn? She is a good, kind, loving person & doesn't deserve to live like this. I have a friend who is barely 40 & had 2 strokes (clots). It has been 5 years. Her left side is paralyzed. Then I saw a PBS show on neuroplasticity. Is there some kind of PT or other program I can do with her to help her brain re-learn? She is a good, kind, loving person & doesn't deserve to live like this.

]]> by: Best Yoga, Meditation & Spiritual Growth Articles http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/26/brain-plasticity-how-learning-changes-your-brain/#comment-153091 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:59:40 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/26/brain-plasticity-how-learning-changes-your-brain/#comment-153091 [...] Alvaro Fernandez presents Brain Plasticity: How learning changes your brain posted at SharpBrains, saying, "Why do London taxi drivers have some larger brain structures than London bus drivers and why does this matter? See what Dr. Pascale Michelon has to say." [...] [...] Alvaro Fernandez presents Brain Plasticity: How learning changes your brain posted at SharpBrains, saying, "Why do London taxi drivers have some larger brain structures than London bus drivers and why does this matter? See what Dr. Pascale Michelon has to say." [...]

]]> by: Alvaro http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/26/brain-plasticity-how-learning-changes-your-brain/#comment-139633 Thu, 28 Feb 2008 03:50:55 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/26/brain-plasticity-how-learning-changes-your-brain/#comment-139633 Bernard: neuroplasticity explains why any kind of learning can occur. It is a premise for all learning. And a variety of training programs, such as neurofeedback, can be helpful in guiding neuroplasticity in appropriate ways. Now, the question is: what is the causal, direct, evidence that a given training intervention is producing the right kind of learning? Neuroplasticity itself does not address that. Bernard: neuroplasticity explains why any kind of learning can occur. It is a premise for all learning. And a variety of training programs, such as neurofeedback, can be helpful in guiding neuroplasticity in appropriate ways.

Now, the question is: what is the causal, direct, evidence that a given training intervention is producing the right kind of learning? Neuroplasticity itself does not address that.

]]> by: Bernard http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/26/brain-plasticity-how-learning-changes-your-brain/#comment-139474 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:01:44 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/26/brain-plasticity-how-learning-changes-your-brain/#comment-139474 It is precisely because the brain has neural plasticity that EEG neurofeedback works. Amol, the brain can retrain itself (strengthening the new neuronal pathways, when given direction via a biofeedback system operating on EEG measurements. It takes time for the new pathways to become dominant/habitual, but once they do, the results of EEG neurofeedback are largely permanent. Similarly, (but on the opposite end of the spectrum), epilepsy patients that do not get their seizure activity under control (only something like 40% gain 100% control through drug therapy) are at risk of a process called kindling - where the brain learns/trains itself to seize. The wrong neuronal pathways are being strengthened in that case. I recommend having a look at Stephen Larson's book, The Healing Power of Neurofeedback: The Revolutionary LENS Technique for Restoring Optimal Brain Function. It references several interesting studies on the subject. It is precisely because the brain has neural plasticity that EEG neurofeedback works.

Amol, the brain can retrain itself (strengthening the new neuronal pathways, when given direction via a biofeedback system operating on EEG measurements.

It takes time for the new pathways to become dominant/habitual, but once they do, the results of EEG neurofeedback are largely permanent.

Similarly, (but on the opposite end of the spectrum), epilepsy patients that do not get their seizure activity under control (only something like 40% gain 100% control through drug therapy) are at risk of a process called kindling - where the brain learns/trains itself to seize. The wrong neuronal pathways are being strengthened in that case.

I recommend having a look at Stephen Larson's book, The Healing Power of Neurofeedback: The Revolutionary LENS Technique for Restoring Optimal Brain Function. It references several interesting studies on the subject.

]]> by: Pascale Michelon http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/26/brain-plasticity-how-learning-changes-your-brain/#comment-139472 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 14:58:52 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/26/brain-plasticity-how-learning-changes-your-brain/#comment-139472 Hi Amol, I would think that learning to use your non-dominant hand does involve plasticity. My guess is that the area in the motor cortex that corresponds to that hand will start developing as a result of the increased movement in that hand. Hi Amol,
I would think that learning to use your non-dominant hand does involve plasticity. My guess is that the area in the motor cortex that corresponds to that hand will start developing as a result of the increased movement in that hand.

]]> by: Amol http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/26/brain-plasticity-how-learning-changes-your-brain/#comment-139341 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:42:22 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/26/brain-plasticity-how-learning-changes-your-brain/#comment-139341 Just curious, How does the "learning" of how to use your second hand fit into this? i.e a right hander becoming ambidexturous? Are the same processes involved in terms of rewiring between hemispheres of the brain? Is it possible to develop handedness by focusing on the skill or this something more gene related? Thanks, Amol Just curious,

How does the "learning" of how to use your second hand fit into this? i.e a right hander becoming ambidexturous?

Are the same processes involved in terms of rewiring between hemispheres of the brain? Is it possible to develop handedness by focusing on the skill or this something more gene related?

Thanks,

Amol

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