Neuroplasticity

[Zumbafan]

I just listened to a fascinating program over here in UK about neuroplasticity. Professor Takao Hensch, from Boston Children's Hospital was talking about the subject and his research. He has discovered that as we grow older our brains produce chemicals that suppress plasticity, so we don't adapt at random. Otherwise we would all be unpredictable. So, deliberate action is needed to rewire and overcome resistance, to correct "bad" wiring.

 

[JanAtheCPA]

I tell you, the discoveries being made in neuroscience these days are fascinating - and so often they relate in some way to mind-body awareness. I look forward to the Ted Radio Hour every week (hosted by National Public Radio here in the US) because the topics are usually about our brains.

 

[Forest]

I'm a big fan of the Ted Radio Hour, too. It's fun, inspiring, and very interesting.

I'm a huge fan of neuroscience, too. I think that it won't be long before neuroscience starts helping us understand our unconscious minds far better. The rate at which it is progressing is mind-blowing.

 

[mike2014]

I just listened to a fascinating program over here in UK about neuroplasticity. Professor Takao Hensch, from Boston Children's Hospital was talking about the subject and his research. He has discovered that as we grow older our brains produce chemicals that suppress plasticity, so we don't adapt at random. Otherwise we would all be unpredictable. So, deliberate action is needed to rewire and overcome resistance, to correct "bad" wiring.

Hi Zumbafan,

I remember reading this article last year, i'm sure his work has evolved by now though.

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/a...l-that-helps-us-learn-as-fast-as-kids/359757/

 

[Zumbafan]

@mike2014, thanks for posting the article. I like that our brains continue to transform throughout our lives.

 

[IrishSceptic]

When I first heard of neuroplasticity I was skeptical but found it to be partially true. As usual the quack community co-opted the term to make it seem like our brains were capable of all sorts.
Recent research showing how Interneurons can switch identify depending on brain activity has made me rethink again. It could be more direct and powerful than I first imagined. If you consciously alter your brains activity by identifying stressors and thinking differently then it can actually change the cell. It has long been thought that neurons like most cells in the body reach a certain level of differentiation and then stay that way, dividing up into new versions of themselves along the way. We know that stem cells are special because they are the only cells that to my knowledge were able to perform this feat.
here is the link to it, carried out at Kings College London.
pretty incredible development and may point to the possibility that more cells in the brain can adapt to stimuli more readily than first thought.

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/349/6253/1216.short

I will await the verdict of the guys at this blog though as they are great for breaking down media hyped articles concerning Science and NeuroS in particular.

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/neuroskeptic/