 2008-10-30 - Human brain life
Having had a serious brain injury 17 months ago, and, very fortunately completely recovered, I am more fascinated than ever with the human brain. This book is so informative. It is amazing what the brain does, and so relatively little is still known about it. This guy has come up with a fantastic review of the brain. All power to him. It is so encouraging for someone, like me, who has had a brain trauma.
"LOU"
 2008-10-28 - The Brain That Changes Itself.
Our daughter had a serious brain injury in 2003. The content of this book provided us with very contemporary, moreover, encouraging information.
2008-10-22 - Neuroplasticity: The Changeable Brain
This book is a must for understanding the potential benefits of the changeable brain even for a novice to the idea of "neuroplasticity." Whether you are a patient who could benefit from this book, or whether you are simply curious to explore the term "neuroplasticity," this book will open your eyes to a new level of many possibilities and hopes within human life.
Overview + Summary
For the people who are not familiar with the notion of "neuroplasticity," I will first introduce the meaning of the term as it is defined in the book by the author. In the preface, he explains that "neuro is for `neurons,' the nerve cells in our brains and nervous systems; and that plastic is for `changeable, malleable, modifiable'" (xix). Thus, the idea of "neuroplasticity" refers to the brain that can change its own structure and function as opposed to the commonly accepted view of the brain comprising of many areas that are dedicated to a specific function. For example, Broca's area has an important role in understanding and producing syntactically complex sentences and other language functions. Therefore, a localizationist opposing the idea of "neuroplasticity" would argue that damage to this area would impair its role in language processing and speech production; and further, full recovery would not be possible due to an unchangeable brain.
However, the discoveries that the brain could be shaped to perform more efficiently even after the critical period; and that if certain parts of the brain failed to function properly, other parts could often take over became a breakthrough in neuroscience. The author provides much evidence to support the notion of "neuroplasticity," which was once regarded as a radical idea that was challenged by many neuroscientists. He tells the story of his encounters with different "neuroplasticians," the "practitioners of the new science of changing brains" and the patients they have transformed (xx).
The fascinating story of a woman who falls perpetually due to her lost vestibular system is introduced in the first chapter. To briefly give an insight of her story, it is first necessary to explain the role of the vestibular apparatus. It is the sensory organ for the balance system; and further, it has a strong connection to the visual system. Since she has lost nearly 95% to 100% of her vestibular system, she could not maintain her balance, causing her to fall continuously. Further, her case was considered as hopeless. However, an understanding that the sensory cortex is plastic made it possible for a "neuroplastician" to replace her vestibular apparatus, sending balance signals to her brain from her tongue. Her story is not the only one demonstrating many benefits of the changeable brain. The next chapter illustrates a story of a woman, who was labeled as retarded, but who managed to build herself a better brain, further giving hope to many with learning disorders. In the third chapter, the author introduces another achievement made possible by brain plasticity-- improving people's ability to think by redesigning the brain by training specific processing areas. A "neuroplastician" describes a brain as "a living creature with an appetite, one that can grow and change itself with proper nourishment and exercise" (47). Surely, the assumption that the brain cannot be altered was proven wrong as evident through many works of "neuroplasticians."
From the first three chapters, many benefits of the changeable brain were discussed. However, the author also introduces cases in which "neuroplasticity" could work to cause our brains to be more vulnerable to outside influences. Thus, "neuroplasticity" does not always produce positive consequences. However, he explains that the problematic neuronal networks could be undermined by "unlearning" connections between neurons as opposed to "learning" (117). Further, he demonstrates the importance of the process of "unlearning" through an example of patients from their involvement in porn to understanding and reinforcing their problems by "unlearning". Other chapters give details of stroke patients who have learned to recover either partially or almost fully to be able to lead a normal life, moving and speaking freely again. There is also a story of people with obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, who has taken advantages of plasticity to prevent them from acting compulsively, resulting in a more healthy lifestyle.
The most fascinating story of all, however, is the patient who was born with the left hemisphere missing. Simply, it never developed. Therefore, instead of each hemisphere working together to govern each other, the right hemisphere had learned to take over the left hemisphere. In another words, the right hemisphere has to function on its own without input from the left; and also, process the key functions of the left. However, she leads a normal life without any major difficulties. Her life is a true demonstration how radically the brain can change.
Overall, the central theme of "neuroplasticity" was well presented and developed through the story of the author's encounters with "neuroplasticians" and their patients. The changeable brain, a notion once challenged by localizationists, is the current truth appreciated by many whose lives were touched and transformed. However, the author also points out that the plastic change in the brain also may have negative effects. Therefore, understanding both positive and negative consequences is necessary to fully explore the possibilities of "neuroplasticity."
Style and Structure
The preface first introduces the idea of "neuroplasticity" to provide readers with some expectations about the content of the book. His central idea of "neuroplasticity" is very well explained through his encounters with many "neuroplasticians" and their patients whose lives they have transformed. Even for potential readers who are not familiar with the term "neuroplasticity," this book could be easily understood as the author thoroughly explains all the technical terms of neuroscience related words he introduces. Further, the author categorizes different cases in eleven different chapters. If readers seek to view a specific case that interests them personally, it is always easy to take a look at contents in the beginning of the book and decide which section to read. Also, the notes and references section at the end of the book include comments on interesting details and articles mentioned in each chapter. Finally, the index at the end lists all the terms used in the book, allowing readers to easily go back to the parts they would like to review.
Interesting Quotes
"'Hardwiring' was another machine metaphor coming from the idea of the brain as computer hardware, with permanently connected circuits, each designed to perform a specific, unchangeable function." (xviii)
"This `unmasking' is generally thought to be one of the main ways the plastic brain reorganizes itself." (9)
"Neurons that fire together wire together." (63)
"Neurons that fire apart wire apart--or Neurons out of sync fail to link." (64)
"Unlearning and weakening connections between neurons is just as plastic a process, and just as important, as learning and strengthening." (117)
"...imagining an act and doing it are not as different as they sound." (203)
Four kinds of plasticity include: "map expansion, sensory assignment, compensatory masquerade, and mirror region takeover." (276) *for more information on each type of plasticity, please, refer to p276.
For Potential Readers
This book is a treasure that one must possess. Readers with different intended purpose of exploring this book will be led to one place--the fascinating world of "neuroplasticity." Because this book is very well organized in both style and structure as described earlier, readers will be at ease throughout the book, appreciating the author's effort to make it more approachable to anyone who may want to learn about the unchangeable brain.
There is no specific way as to direct readers how to read this book. The descriptive content in the beginning as well as the index at the end allow readers to directly go to the specific topics that are of personal interest to them. However, reading the book chapter by chapter is highly recommended.
2008-10-19 - Great topic but perhaps a bit long winded
I bought The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science (James H. Silberman Books) after seeing Dr Norman Doige interviewed on TV. The idea that the human brain is capable of change and adaptation well into old age fascinated me and I wanted to learn a bit more about this.
There's no question that Norman Doige is a good and thorough writer who makes sure his claims are backed up by good research. On the down side I felt he laboured too much on his point about neuroplasticity as if the reader constantly needed reminding.
The anecdotes he describes at the beginning of chapters are wonderful and inspiring but the sometimes long and complicated descriptions of research had me flipping quickly through the pages to get to the next chapter.
If I were able to make a request it would be that Dr Doige include a chapter that neatly summarizes some of the practical things we can do to exercise our brains into old age.
Having said all this, The Brain That Changes Itself is an excellent blend of self help and good research that is easily read and absorbed.
2008-10-15 - amazing
This is such a revelation. The book is so easy to read.
What an amazing brain we have been given.
I marvel the older I get at Gods' wonderful creation and how he made us.
And we are learning this with these sorts of discoveries.
A great book and so very easy to read and understand.
Thank you.
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