brain plasticity: how to keep it (Introduction)

by David Turell , Sunday, February 08, 2015, 19:16 (3367 days ago) @ David Turell

A complete article on current research. Our brains are amazingly plastic and can recover from major damage by being taught tov recruit new areas to take over lost functions:-http://www.wsj.com/articles/our-amazingly-plastic-brains-1423262095?mod=trending_now_1-"The mainstream view in neuroscience and medicine today is that the living brain is actually “neuroplastic”—meaning that its “circuits” are constantly changing in response to what we actually do out in the world. As we think, perceive, form memories or learn new skills, the connections between brain cells also change and strengthen. Far from being hard-wired, the brain has circuits that very rapidly form, unform and reform. -"This capacity is the foundation for the brain's distinctive way of healing. If an area is damaged, new neurons can often take over old tasks. Nor are we just our neurons. Our memories and experiences are also encoded in the patterns of electrical energy produced by our brain cells, like a musical score. As with an orchestra, when one member of the string section is sick, the show can still go on if a replacement has access to the musical score."