Brain shown to change, heal through thinking
According to science reporter Sharon Begley, even if you're an adult, you can still "reroute" your brain.
The adult brain can physically change – even heal itself – through the thoughts we think.
That’s according to research reported by Sharon Begley, the science columnist for the Wall Street Journal in New York. She’s the author of a new book called Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain.
Sharon Begley: The adult brain can indeed change. Its structure can change. Its function can change. Its patterns of activity can change. And those changes can come about in response to our experiences.
Begley speaks of “neuroplasticity,” where new or different neural connections form in different regions of the brain. One example … stroke patients. A stroke can damage the brain’s motor cortex, where for instance a region on the left side of the brain controls a person’s right arm.
Sharon Begley: Through a particular therapy that also relies on the power of neuroplasticity, scientists are able to coax a completely different region of the brain, sometimes in the mirror opposite side of the brain, to take over the function of the injured part of the brain.
Begley also spoke of meditation, and pointed to cognitive therapies that change a person’s thinking patterns and help them overcome brain disorders such as depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and even post-traumatic stress disorder.
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Our thanks to:
Sharon Begley
Science Columnist
Wall Street Journal
New York
How do you get a different region of the brain to take over the function of an injured part?? What is the therapy mentioned by Sharon??
Keri, I’m so sorry … I don’t have the details (although Jorge Salazar, who interviewed Sharon, might). Maybe he’ll have a response on Monday. But I can tell you now that we’ve got a 12-minute podcast with Sharon here.
If that doesn’t answer your question, you might also consider purchasing Sharon’s book.
All the best,
Deborah
Earlier this year, Sharon Begley wrote an article for Time Magazine describing what’s called constraint-induced movement therapy.
There’s more about it at this link from the American Stroke Association, including a summary of research done by Edwin Taub of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and his findings that CI therapy made significant improvements in the functional use of an upper limb of patients in a study group.
I agree with Sharon Begley, when speaking of meditation. My whole life I have been climbing a mountain, dealing with sadness and manic depression. A key to get to the top of the mountain is Sahaja Yoga meditation. I found this an extremely useful tool to cleanse the mind, body, and soul. Check it out www.sahajayoga.org
how do you get brain damage by somking weed
ah… and how do you repair brain damage by smoking weed?
Meditation – hmm. I wander if it would work on all 5 males in my house?! Attitude adjustment might just be the fix!
do children have the same brain as grown up…...........
do children have the same brain as grown up…...........
I think its the same thing except the adult brain has more expirience.
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I think about 2000 years ago great man said about the body and brain and how to renew them , (that you have to be born again) . is that the same thing sharon beglay reffer too. we know that already. we need to know some new under the sun .
If we can consciously change unwanton brain patterns of character modes that were unhealthy in our lives, this scientific breakthrough, verifies the fact that people can and are changing the way that we think and use to think. Wow! we really are entering the Age of Consciousness. Once we figure out who we are, we could really understand the potential of our human being in existence.
Stratfort,
I agree. Brain science is one of the most fascinating areas of science …
Deborah
now this is what i call cool. YA dude!