Brain matter

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Permalink Reply by Michael Ellner on November 16, 2009 at 4:11am

Hi Tony,

Neurologists used to think brain damage was permanent and now they don't --

I suggest you find out what she wants and consider helping her using the model that her brain has a life long ability to learn, grow new connections and change....

You can start informing yourself about Brain PLasticity with the two abstracts below:

http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/kjm/53/4/53_231/_article
Brain plasticity in health and disease
Barbro B Johansson1)
1) Division for Experimental Brain Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Lund University, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center
(Received for publication on August 2, 2004)
Abstract. Research during the last decades has greatly increased our understanding of brain plasticity, i.e. how neuronal circuits can be modified by experience, learning and in response to brain lesions. Currently available neuroimaging techniques that make it possible to study the function of the human brain in vivo have had an important impact. Cross-modal plasticity during development is demonstrated by cortical reorganization in blind or deaf children. Early musical training has lasting effects in shaping the brain. Albeit the plasticity is largest during childhood, the adult brain retains a capacity for functional and structural reorganization that earlier has been underestimated. Resent research on Huntington's disease has revealed the possibility of environmental interaction even with dominant genes. Scientifically based training methods are now being applied in rehabilitation of patients after stroke and trauma, and in the sensory retraining techniques currently applied in the treatment of focal hand dystonia as well as in sensory re-education after nerve repair in hand surgery. There is evidence that frequent participation in challenging and stimulating activities is associated with reduced cognitive decline during aging. The current concept of brain plasticity has wide implication for areas outside neuroscience and for all human life.
Key words: neuronal plasticity, development, dystonia, stroke, aging
----
http://psycnet.apa.org/index.cfm?fa=buy.optionToBuy&id=2004-203...
Harnessing Brain Plasticity through Behavioral Techniques to Produce New Treatments in Neurorehabilitation.
By Taub, Edward
American Psychologist. Vol 59(8), Nov 2004, 692-704.
Abstract
Basic behavioral neuroscience research with monkeys has given rise to an efficacious new approach to the rehabilitation of movement after stroke, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, and other types of neurological injury in humans termed Constraint-Induced Movement therapy or CI therapy. For the upper extremity, the treatment involves intensive training of the more affected arm by "shaping," the application of a number of other behavioral techniques, and prolonged constraint of use of the less affected arm. CI therapy has been shown to produce large changes in the organization and function of the brain. This result points to the fact that behavior can have a profound effect on the nervous system that is greater than is generally recognized, and harnessing this brain plasticity by behavioral means has promise for the development of new treatments in the field of rehabilitation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved)

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Permalink Reply by Chris Witherspoon on November 16, 2009 at 1:13pm

Thank you Micheal for being one of our experts in residence and bring such valuable information.

Chris

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Permalink Reply by Tony Grant on November 16, 2009 at 4:13pm

Michael
Thank you so much for this response and the links, this is invaluable.

Tony Grant


Michael Ellner said:

Hi Tony,

Neurologists used to think brain damage was permanent and now they don't --

I suggest you find out what she wants and consider helping her using the model that her brain has a life long ability to learn, grow new connections and change....

You can start informing yourself about Brain PLasticity with the two abstracts below:

http://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/kjm/53/4/53_231/_article
Brain plasticity in health and disease
Barbro B Johansson1)
1) Division for Experimental Brain Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Lund University, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center
(Received for publication on August 2, 2004)
Abstract. Research during the last decades has greatly increased our understanding of brain plasticity, i.e. how neuronal circuits can be modified by experience, learning and in response to brain lesions. Currently available neuroimaging techniques that make it possible to study the function of the human brain in vivo have had an important impact. Cross-modal plasticity during development is demonstrated by cortical reorganization in blind or deaf children. Early musical training has lasting effects in shaping the brain. Albeit the plasticity is largest during childhood, the adult brain retains a capacity for functional and structural reorganization that earlier has been underestimated. Resent research on Huntington's disease has revealed the possibility of environmental interaction even with dominant genes. Scientifically based training methods are now being applied in rehabilitation of patients after stroke and trauma, and in the sensory retraining techniques currently applied in the treatment of focal hand dystonia as well as in sensory re-education after nerve repair in hand surgery. There is evidence that frequent participation in challenging and stimulating activities is associated with reduced cognitive decline during aging. The current concept of brain plasticity has wide implication for areas outside neuroscience and for all human life.
Key words: neuronal plasticity, development, dystonia, stroke, aging
----
http://psycnet.apa.org/index.cfm?fa=buy.optionToBuy&id=2004-203...
Harnessing Brain Plasticity through Behavioral Techniques to Produce New Treatments in Neurorehabilitation.
By Taub, Edward
American Psychologist. Vol 59(8), Nov 2004, 692-704.
Abstract
Basic behavioral neuroscience research with monkeys has given rise to an efficacious new approach to the rehabilitation of movement after stroke, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, and other types of neurological injury in humans termed Constraint-Induced Movement therapy or CI therapy. For the upper extremity, the treatment involves intensive training of the more affected arm by "shaping," the application of a number of other behavioral techniques, and prolonged constraint of use of the less affected arm. CI therapy has been shown to produce large changes in the organization and function of the brain. This result points to the fact that behavior can have a profound effect on the nervous system that is greater than is generally recognized, and harnessing this brain plasticity by behavioral means has promise for the development of new treatments in the field of rehabilitation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved)

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