Neuroplasticity/Learning/Changing

[skr 1]

For as long as I can remember
I've been told that each part of
the brain does a specific thing,
vision, hearing, motor control
and so on, and if that part of the
brain gets damaged then you
lose that function.

I was also told that some time
early in life your brain is fully
developed, that's all the neurons
you get, and from there on up
it's all down hill.

I was also told that you only use
10% of your brain, and a lot of
other definite sounding statements.


I always used to wonder - How do
they know? Who says? How can
I keep learning and changing if
nothing is changing?

They made it sound like someone
somewhere knew the whole story,
when in fact it all looked more like
an expanding frontier of ignorance
to me.

We keep learning more and more
stuff and looking over the edge at
the other 99% that's still out there.


Then not long ago I stumbled across
a word, neuroplasticity, and Googled,
and found that most of what I had
been told was wrong, and in fact,
lots of other people were looking
into this very question.

I bought a book:
Train your Mind, Change your Brain
by Sharon Begley (Ballantine),
and actually resisted buying a whole
wheelbarrow full of books - going into
a book store with a credit card is still
a dangerous act for me :-) :-)


This seems like it has vast implications
for the learning and training that we do.

I had meant to post more about this,
but this China trip is now looming and
sweeping all else before it, kind of like
psyllium husks for the mind.

I'll be back.

Skr

[Zing 2]

Safe journey Skratch ... keep those nuerons plastic!

Zing Lurks

[RkyMtnHigh 0]

I can't wait to hear about your trip to China...take lots of pics and journal

_________________________________________

[iamsam 0]

Interesting post. Truly the brain is one of the last unexplored continents left.

I was going to PM this but a public forum is probably a better place for it, anyway I feel compelled to mention it, on the subject of brain function and China..

Have a great time, but please don't drink any of the local hooch. I have a friend who did, it was full of bad shit, resulting in a coma and neurological damage. He's out of the coma, will never be the same again.

I've drunk home brews of varying descriptions in Asia before, but would certainly think twice before doing so again.

Sam

but what do I know

[AMax 0]

Short answer:

The number of neurons in your brain does not increase after you go through development because, unlike other cells, neurons do not divide.

However, the wiring of local neural circuitry (synaptic pattern) the number of synaptic contacts and (very importantly) the properties of individual synapses undergo constant activity-dependent changes. This process is called plasticity.

Have a wondeful trip to China!

[kallend 2,129]

Quote

Short answer:

The number of neurons in your brain does not increase after you go through development because, unlike other cells, neurons do not divide.

However, the wiring of local neural circuitry (synaptic pattern) the number of synaptic contacts and (very importantly) the properties of individual synapses undergo constant activity-dependent changes. This process is called plasticity.

Have a wondeful trip to China!

What about biology.about.com/library/weekly/aa102199.htm?

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[AMax 0]

The subject of neurogenesis in adult brain is too complicated and controversial to discuss here.

[wmw999 2,566]

Quote

The subject of neurogenesis in adult brain is too complicated and controversial to discuss here.

Well then we should move this to Speaker's Corner. Nothing is too complicated or controversial for SC

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[kallend 2,129]

Quote

Quote

The subject of neurogenesis in adult brain is too complicated and controversial to discuss here.

Well then we should move this to Speaker's Corner. Nothing is too complicated or controversial for SC

Wendy W.

ROFL

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.