| Neuroscience has changed considerably in the past 20 | | | | Brain plasticity is not restricted to unplanned |
| years. An example of change over period is the | | | | circumstances, such as accidents, brain traumas and |
| concept of brain plasticity. Brain plasticity refers to | | | | other critical instances that require rewiring to |
| the brain's ability to rewire itself, relocating | | | | re-establish functional connections. Learning is also a |
| information processing functions to different brain | | | | major beneficiary of brain plasticity. Studies with |
| areas and/or neural networks. Two decades ago, it | | | | musicians and athletes have shown that particular |
| was believed that brain networks were static after | | | | areas of the brain responsible for 'fine' or 'specific' |
| its initial formation period. Now that belief has | | | | movements in certain parts of the body (e.g. the |
| changed. The study of brain plasticity has profound | | | | hands of a pianist or string musician) are in fact |
| implications in human learning and behaviour, and as | | | | rewired for optimization. Once training becomes a |
| such, for mental health. | | | | routine, and particular movements are repeated over |
| To better understand this concept, let's take a quick | | | | and over again, the tendency is that neuronal |
| tour of the human brain, neural networks, and the | | | | connections will become more permanent. |
| plastic potential therein. | | | | But there is more to it. Physical contact is not a |
| Brains, Neurons and Networks | | | | requirement when it comes to rewiring. Repeated |
| The brain is a multilayered parallel structure in which | | | | thinking can also trigger a series of reactions which |
| billions of neurons are interconnected and exchange | | | | result in brain rewiring. Scientists have investigated |
| information through neural networks. In the brain, | | | | the formation of synapses as a result of 'thinking |
| each neuron is connected to thousands of other | | | | about doing something' and found that, from a |
| neurons through synapses (specialised neuronal | | | | neuronal perspective, thinking can be as useful as |
| junctions). A connected neuron receives input from | | | | doing. This evidence led to an interesting fusion of |
| several other neurons, and when the input weight | | | | interests between Buddhist meditation (through the |
| reaches a threshold value, the neuron propagates an | | | | Dalai Lama's interest on the influence of the mind |
| electrical signal that stimulates output through the | | | | over the brain) and the scientific research on brain |
| ignition of a neurotransmitter (input to another | | | | plasticity and the formation of neural networks. It |
| neuron). | | | | seems that brain plasticity is a flexible topic as well as |
| This electrochemical exchange is the basis of brain | | | | a flexible concept. |
| cell communication. It is also the premise for the | | | | Mind Your Thoughts |
| formation of neural networks. These networks are | | | | Learning and plasticity took centre stage when |
| formed during early childhood and are responsible for | | | | collaborative research was conducted with lamas |
| particular brain tasks, such as learning, pattern | | | | (Buddhist equivalent for priests or spiritual leaders). It |
| recognition and problem-solving. It was believed that | | | | seems that, as a result of ongoing meditation through |
| once neural networks were formed, they would | | | | a technique called Mindfulness (which aims to improve |
| remain 'hard-wired' or inflexible. However, research in | | | | the person's control and awareness of thoughts and |
| the past two decades has indicated that this is not | | | | emotions), the lamas were 'more able' to attain |
| the reality: our neural networks are in fact adaptive, | | | | emotional balance and to concentrate. |
| flexible and responsive to change. | | | | Some of these studies include experiments |
| Rewiring is the Key | | | | performed by Dr. Kabat-Zinn (who taught mindfulness |
| So what does it really mean to have a plastic brain? | | | | to workers in a high-pressure biotech business and |
| It has many implications to human behaviour and | | | | concluded that stress levels were optimized over a |
| learning patterns. Primarily, it defies the old adage | | | | short period of time) and Dr. Ekman's tests involving |
| that "an old dog cannot learn new tricks". It is clear | | | | emotional expression detections. "The mindfulness |
| that with age, it becomes increasingly more difficult | | | | training focuses on learning to monitor the continuing |
| to learn new things. However, the brain's ability to | | | | sensations and thoughts more closely, both in sitting |
| adapt to change perpetuates throughout an | | | | meditation and in activities like yoga exercises" (NY |
| individual's lifetime. | | | | Times, 04/02/2003). |
| A prominent case of neuroplasticity happened with a | | | | The benefits of meditation through brain rewiring, |
| patient who spent 19 years in a coma. Terry Wallis, a | | | | from a non-religious perspective, are becoming clearer |
| 19 year old man from Massachusetts (US), woke up | | | | and quite appealing. Currently, there are therapeutic |
| after spending 19 years in a minimally conscious state. | | | | techniques that mix mindfulness with other |
| When scientists scanned his brain combining PET | | | | mainstream therapies such as Cognitive Behaviour |
| (Positron Emission Tomography) and DTI (Diffusion | | | | Therapy. These have proven particularly useful for |
| Tensor Imaging) technologies, they found evidence | | | | cases of depression and anxiety, for example. |
| that Wallis's brain had "developed new pathways and | | | | Stepping Into the Unknown |
| completely novel anatomical structures to re-establish | | | | Brain plasticity has become a major topic of study. |
| functional connections, compensating for the brain | | | | As modern scanning technologies enable scientists to |
| pathways lost in the accident" (New Scientist, 03/07 | | | | observe the formation of synapses under particular |
| 2006). | | | | stimuli, and experiment with living organisms, the |
| Other cases, including stroke victims, people who | | | | applications of this knowledge are reaching a range of |
| have lost sensorial abilities (e.g. visually impaired) and | | | | research fields. Some scientists have promoted the |
| individuals who have suffered cortical injuries show | | | | idea of using stimulation to improve learning, |
| similar conclusions after researchers have investigated | | | | however, at a neurochemical level. Others like the |
| how they have recovered, or how the brain rewired | | | | idea of meditation and 'wishful thinking' to empower |
| itself to compensate for the damaged areas and lost | | | | the process of learning and to optimize the |
| functions. The process of rewiring occurs when new | | | | performance of certain tasks. |
| connections (synapses) between neurons are formed | | | | This collaborative approach from representatives of a |
| and, if they prove to be favourable, they are likely to | | | | non-dogmatic religion such as Buddhism, cognitive |
| become more permanent and stabilised. This process | | | | researchers and neuroscientists seems to be opening |
| allows the brain circuitry to be malleable to changes, | | | | an attractive scope on the concept of brain plasticity. |
| or in other words, to form 'uncommon' networks | | | | How far will this go? Hard to say, but nevertheless: |
| under particular conditions. | | | | very interesting to mind. |
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