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