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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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The Brain that Changes Itself summary
Norman Doidge
Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science
22 mins
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"The Brain that Changes Itself" by Norman Doidge is a revolutionary book that describes the incredible brain's plasticity by sharing stories of people that overcame neurological impediments and changing their lives.
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The Brain that Changes Itself
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The brain changes itself through processes like “unmasking.”
For years it was thought that the brain, once fully formed, was fixed until it deteriorated with age. But with the rise of neuroplasticity, we’re discovering this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain to continually change itself. The prefix “neuro” refers to neurons, i.e., the nerve cells in our brains and nervous systems, and the suffix “plastic” means changeable. The brain, then, alters its nerve structure and function through thought and activity.
But how exactly does the brain reorganize itself? One way is through unmasking.
Unmasking describes what happens when one neural pathway is shut off and a secondary one is exposed, the latter becoming stronger with repeated use.
Cheryl Schiltz is a great example of this phenomenon. For five years, each time she stood up, she would lose her balance. She had almost entirely lost the vestibular system of her brain – the area needed for balance. That is, until one of the pioneers of neuroplasticity, Paul Bach-y-Rita, designed a special device that Schiltz could wear.
The device, called an accelerometer, sent signals to a plastic strip containing electrodes, which had been placed on Schiltz’s tongue. The sensations on her tongue were then redirected to the area in Schiltz’s brain that processed balance, rather than going where they normally went: to the sensory cortex, the area that processes touch.
After much practice with the device, a new pathway in Schiltz's brain was unmasked and strengthened, and she began to regain her balance on her own.
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What is The Brain that Changes Itself about?
How can stroke victims who become paralyzed start using a fork or buttoning their shirts again? Well, contrary to what was believed for so long, the brain is not hardwired. It can change, regenerate and grow. Drawing on real-life cases of scientists, doctors and patients, The Brain that Changes Itself (2007) shows us how, rather than relying on surgery and medicine, we can alter our brains through thought and behavior.
Best quote from The Brain that Changes Itself
[Nature] has given us a brain that survives in a changing world by changing itself.
—Norman Doidge
Who should read The Brain that Changes Itself?
- Anyone who wants to change their habits
- Psychology students
- Anyone seeking inspiration while recovering from an injury
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