The Brain that Changes Itself is a book written by Norman Doidge, M.D. He is a psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, researcher, and author. This book details the cases and lives of people and how brain plasticity has changed the way that they function. Their cases were deemed as helpless, but with the right training, their brains were able to change and function properly. The book includes cases and stories about the following: phantom limbs being erased, patients being able to recover from a stroke, a woman who was born with half a brain being able to rewire it and function properly, lifelong character traits that are often hard to alter changing, aging brains being revived and learning disorders being cured through treatments. The stories and research conducted in The Brain that Changes Itself showcase how we are still learning about the brains capabilities. Technology allows us to see how the brain functions and neuroplasticity enables us to realize that the brain can be changed through learning. As a society, we often feel as if nothing can be fixed and that people have to live with disorders and not being able to function properly. However, this book showcases that behaviors and the brain can be changed through the use of the right treatments, which can help stimulate the neurons and rewire the brain.
Chapter 1: A Woman Perpetually Falling…
In this chapter, Norman Doidge talks about a lady, Cheryl Schlitz, whose vestibular apparatus is no longer working. Her vestibular apparatus function was lost because she had an infection after a post-operation surgery. Cheryl kept saying that she feels as if she is constantly falling. Due to feeling as if she is falling, she actually falls. She stated that even when she has in fact fallen, she still feels as if she is still constantly falling. The vestibular system helps maintain balance and has three semicircular canals in the inner ear that are a part of the balance system. Each semicircular canal deal with a different movement, such as up and down, side to side, and tilting vertically. Cheryl then meets Paul Bach y Rita and his neuroplasticity team who work together to help build a device that can restore her vestibular system. When Cheryl put on the device, she no longer had a sense of falling and the total residue time was three hours and 20 minutes. Over the year, she was able to wear the device more frequently and her residual was able to increase. As of now, Cheryl Schlitz, no longer uses the device and does not have any notions of falling.
This chapter also discusses Paul’s father and how he suffered a stroke. Paul decided to started from the beginning of life as a human when it came to treating his father, and pushed his father to crawl and move the parts of his body such as his hand, leg, and tongue, that he could not move. In the end, his father was able to recover. Through helping his father recover, Paul was able to see that patients needed motivation and to partake in exercises that correlated with real-life activities. From then, Paul was able to understand that the brain could relearn.
This chapter was interesting to me because of the brain’s ability to restructure and relearn, but most specifically because of Paul’s father having a stroke. When I was 14 years old, my mom passed away due to an aneurysm. I had no idea what an aneurysm was so after research I discovered what caused aneurysms, that aneurysms cause hemorrhage strokes, and the symptoms of an aneurysm. However, my mom did not show any symptoms which is what confused me. I assumed that it was caused from stress due to her working long hours and also studying to obtain her Master’s Degree. Prior, my mom started acting different such as not talking often or saying things that did not make sense, but the doctors did not understand what exactly was wrong. I later found out that she passed from an aneurysm in the hospital. Still to this day, I wonder what caused the aneurysm, since there were no symptoms that were being shown and no one in my family had an aneurysm before. Ideas for future research is figuring out the exact cause of aneurysms and whether or not it is heredity. Additionally, I also think that there should be research whether patients who have brain aneurysms can go through the same treatment that Paul’s father went through without having surgery.
Chapter 2: Building Herself a Better Brain
During this chapter, Dr. Norman Doidge talks about an individual who has a defect. Barbara Arrowsmith Young described her mind as being asymmetrical. Due to this, her Broca’s area did not function well due to damage and had difficulty pronouncing words. She also lacked spatial reasoning, had problems with her kinesthetic perception which prevented Barbara from controlling and coordinating her movements as well as prevent him from being aware of how far her arms and legs had moved on her left or right side. This tended to make her clumsy. Additionally, Barbara had a visual disability, dyslexia, and also had problems understanding real time. Since there were no special education teachers or opportunities that could challenge her, Barbara took matters into her own hands. She began developing mental exercises that could modify her brain and increase the function. One of the exercises included reading cards that had clock faces showing different times. Through this exercise, there were improvements in her grammar, math, and logic, she was also able to understand what people were saying as they said it.
Additionally, exercises relating to spatial reasoning, kinesthetic perception and visual disabilities were designed and improved to an average level. Later on, the Arrowsmith School was built and the curriculum addressed issues such as speech, written language, and reading. Through these issues, activities were developed in order to modify and improve the brains of students who had learning disorders and were easily distracted in school. The Arrowsmith approach benefitted students in a way that their weakened functions were identified and then strengthened through the use of the program and its brain exercises.
Prior to reading this chapter, I knew that the brain constantly partaking in mental activities helps the brain function better. I think that it’s important that we constantly read, write, and participate in activities that help our brain, especially as children. Having schools such as Arrowsmith is important because their curriculum helps students who may have learning disabilities. When I was in middle school, I hated that we were assigned summer homework. I just wanted to relax and not think about school for the next two months. However, as I grew older, I was able to realize that during the summer is when most students brain is not functioning as well because they are not partaking in mental activities. Due to this, students start the new school year not remembering basic ideas that are needed in order to academically succeed. Additionally, I hope that there are more schools that help those with learning disabilities. In my hometown, and working at a daycare, I realized that children with learning disabilities are just passed along to the next grade level and continue to digress or stay stagnant when it comes to their academic success. I also realized that some children are just given medicine and expected to function better. Similar to Arrowsmith, there should be schools and/or programs designated to children with learning disabilities in order to help improve their brain function. I also think that future research should conduct studies that explain why mental activities sometimes work better than surgical procedures.
Chapter 3: Redesigning the Brain
In this chapter, Michael Merzenich is introduced to us. Merzenich and his team developed a software program, Fast ForWord, for children who are language impaired and have learning disabilities. This program is designed as a child’s game that helps raise their IQ levels and even helps children who have autism. Merzenich’s main focus was brain plasticity and the idea that the brain can change and increase its capacity to learn. Prior to Michael Merzenich’s research, the idea of localization was prominent. Essentially, the brain could not change and everything was permanent. However, Merzenich described the brain as having an appetite. Essentially, he is stating that the brain will continue to grow with proper learning exercise. Later on, Merzenich and his team conducted research on the auditory and sensory nervous systems. Through the use of other animals, he was able to map the auditory cortex of different animals, which came to the perfection of the cochlear implant. The cochlear implant replaces the damaged cochlea in a deaf person which allows the brain to restructure itself, which proves that the brain in fact can partake in plasticity. Additionally, through research, Merznich and his team were able to see that individual neurons were more selective with training, when neurons become more trained they process faster. Overall, Merzenich’s experiment helped us to understand the idea of plasticity and how it is important to constantly exercise the brain to avoid the loss of neural connections.
What I specifically liked about this chapter was the software program that trained the brain against brain injuries and cognitive impairments. When I worked in a daycare, I was able to see how different activities helped children with their cognitive development. There was also a child who was autistic, and he was very smart. He had problems interacting with the other kids, but he knew everything that he was doing. I think having a program like Fast ForWord would help improve his cognitive development and enable him to think and learn better. I believe that programs similar to Fast ForWord should implemented into school systems in order to help those with learning disabilities. Consequently, I think that there should be research programs on ways that the brain could be trained to improve cognitive impairments as oppose to surgical procedures.
Chapter 4: Acquiring Tastes and Loves
In this chapter, Doidge discusses how neuroplasticity is correlated to sex and love. It talks about how the things we experience shape our likes and dislikes, the people that we love and the things we like to do with them. Plasticity exists in the hippocampus, in the spinal cord, and other areas that regulate our breathing, and process pain and sensation. This chapter also talks about Freud and the critical periods of sexual plasticity. Freud argues that the environment and type of affection that a child receives from its parent(s) plays a role in their ability to love when they become an adult.
Pornography is also brought up in this chapter and discusses its effect on the brain because of the two separate pleasure systems that is in our brain. One pleasure system has to do with exciting pleasure and the other is a satisfying pleasure. Dopamine also plays a role in sexual excitement when someone watches porn which is why it becomes so addictive. Additionally, oxytocin reinforces bonding and creates trust and increases attachment. This explains why children who are adopted or orphans have a harder time creating a bond. Overall, the studies have shown that there is a physiological basis for some emotional behaviors.
This chapter was one of my favorite chapters because it broadens my perspective on how our experiences shape the things that we like/dislike and who/what we are attracted to. I always wondered why some people may be attracted to a certain group of people, while some are not. I began to understand that our cultures play a role on this. For instance, in America, some people are attracted to those who are skinny because there is a social idea that skinnier people are more attractive. However, in my culture, being skinny is a sign of malnutrition and is not looked at as attractive. Our cultures and the environment that we are in shapes our sexual attractions and I find that very thought-provoking that that can affect our sexual attractions and love life. I have always known that we are more attracted to people who are more similar to us as well as people and that proximity also plays a role in who were are attracted to. However, I was curious if someone’s sexual attraction is changed if the person is constantly moving to different environments that have different cultures.
Furthermore, I think the idea that oxytocin of interesting. As a psychology major, I learned that oxytocin plays a major role more specifically in females. Something as simple as hugging someone increases oxytocin levels and I think that it very interesting how the body works and how that can affect a relationship. This is why it is so important that babies have that first touch with their parents in order to form an emotional bond. I also think that it is important that we are hugged at least once a day in order to help function our brain properly. Throughout my experiences, I have realized that sometimes my culture is not affectionate which affects some of the relationships that I and others that I know have formed. Due to this, it makes me want to shower my future children in hugs that way their emotional behavior is positive. I also think that seeing a case study or research on the brain of someone who was loved and cuddled as a child but having trouble creating emotional bonds with other would be stimulating.
Chapter 5: Midnight Resurrections
In this chapter, there is a surgeon, Michael Bernstein M.D., who had a stroke and because of this stroke half of his body is affected. He was able to recover through neuroplasticity therapy. However, Dr. Bernstein had another stroke which left his left size paralyzed, which damaged his motor cortex. He then went through Taub Therapy clinic in which he partakes in constraint induced movements. While in the Taub clinic, he did hand and arms movements that helped strengthen his motor skills. Throughout the intensive two-week program, Dr. Bernstein was able to return to his prior lifestyle before the stroke.
Additionally, Taub worked with monkeys by cutting their sensory nerves, which caused the monkeys to not feel any pain or sensation when they were touched. Sir Charles Sherrington also supported the idea that movement occurs because of a response to a stimulus and the spinal reflex. Through this, idea of reflexological theory of movement came about and was used to explain movement.
When I read this chapter, I automatically thought of my uncle. One of my uncle’s had a stroke a few years ago, which left him unable to move around independently. He went through rehabilitation therapy, and was able to move around, but he mostly relies on a cane. When reading this chapter, I constantly thought if the Taub Clinic treatments would have an effect on his life after his stroke or if the same results would have been produced with rehabilitation and drug treatment. Overall, I think the idea of the Taub Clinic is effective for those who have strokes and that there should be future research on different and effective ways to improve cognition with stroke patients.
Chapter 6: Brain Lock Unlocked
In this chapter, Norman Doidge talks about obsessive compulsive disorders and how that affects individuals. OCD affects individuals in many ways such as reacting to an emotional trigger which causes a major attack, suffering obsessions like contracting a terminal illness, being contaminated by germs, being poisoned, having sexual or aggressive thoughts, and/or having obsessive doubts and second guesses. Some individuals may even become so consumed with their obsessive thoughts that they try to take away the worry by doing a compulsive act. Such as, if a person fears that they are contaminated by germs, they wash themselves over and over again until they feel clean. Since medication and behavioral therapy seldom worked for people, Jeffrey M. Schwartz, a psychiatrist, has developed a plasticity based treatment that helps individuals who suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder and everyday worries. Schwartz was able to form his therapy by comparing the brains of those who do and do not have OCD. Through the use of the brain scans, he was able to see that there are three parts of the brain that are involved in obsessions. The three parts of the brain include the orbital frontal cortex, the cingulate gyrus, and the caudate nucleus. Schwartz main focus was to unlock the link between the orbital frontal cortex and the cingulate gyrus, which would then make the caudate function properly. Additionally, there are two steps in Schwartz’s therapy, which is recognizing the problem and relabeling it and also replacing the obsessive thoughts with something that is a positive pleasurable activity. Overall, the main idea of the therapy is to make an individual avoid acting on their compulsion which would then make the bad connection weaker.
Prior to reading this book, I watched a segment on Howie Mandel. Howie Mandel is a famous comedian, actor, and host. In this segment, he speaks about having obsessive compulsive disorder and how it has affected his life. His anxiety affects him to the point that he does not shake hands with anyone. You can observe that whenever he meets a contestant on a show, he always does a fist bump. He has even shaved his hair because it makes him feel cleaner than when he had hair. He even talks about how a smaller house was built in his backyard so that if a family member is sick, they would stay in there. In his mind, he feels so contaminated, which makes him do a compulsive act such as spending the day scrubbing himself. He even goes into detail about how it was tough when his children were babies because he would wear masks and gloves in order to avoid becoming contaminated by germs. I think it is interesting how people may say that they have OCD simply because they have to put things in a certain way or that they go back to their car twice to see if it is locked. However, I think what they fail to realize is that their life is not affected drastically to the point where they have to do a compulsive act. I have always wondered if having obsessive compulsive disorder is genetic and how if the brain sends a signal that something bad will happen if the compulsive act is not done. If OCD is genetic, I think there should be research that conducts studies on ways to prevent OCD for future generations.
Chapter 7: Pain – The Dark Side of Plasticity
In this chapter, we are introduced to Dr. V.S. Ramachandran. Dr. Ramachandran is a neurologist who also obtains a Ph. D in psychology. Dr. Ramachandran’s main focus was seeing if neuroplasticity explains phantom limbs. He began to work with Tom, a seventeen-year-old amputee, to see if mind mapping can work on humans like it did with monkeys. Some doctors believed that phantom limbs came about due to wishful thinking, and a denial that one’s limb was gone. Dr. Ramachandran first blindfolded Tom and was able to brain map his phantom limb through a magnetoencephalography (MEG). Through this, he was able to understand that the brain map for his face and phantom arm combined. Dr. Ramachandran came up with a few causes of phantom limbs. He first suspected that when a part of a body is lost, the brain develops new connections. Another cause he suspects is that the brain map shrinks, gets disorganized and stops working properly. A solution that has been effective is the mirror box. The mirror box appears to cure the pain by changing the patients’ perception of their body image, which then begins stimulating the limbs motor skills.
The first time that I heard about phantom limbs was in a show called Grey’s Anatomy. In this show, one of the doctor’s lost her leg in a plane crash and was deeply affected. She constantly would think about her leg and feel a pain sensation in it even though it was no longer there. One doctor who worked with amputees helped her re-route her brain to make her brain realize that her leg was gone and that it actually did not hurt. He did this by having her look through a mirror, similar to the mirror box therapy that is discussed in this chapter. I often think if this can apply to the body image that we may have of ourselves. In society today, plastic surgery is a popular trend. People who may have issues with their body image go to a surgeon in order to feel better about their bodies. However, instead of plastic surgery, I think that there should be a neuroplasticity surgery in order to change one’s body image. Changing your mind to think differently rather than having plastic surgery is more beneficial. I say this because sometimes people continue to have plastic surgery because they are not satisfied with their looks. I believe that many people, including myself, often go through times where they are not content with their body image. What I have realized that if changing my brain to believe that I looked fine got rid of my negative thoughts. Remapping the brain and training it the right way such as having positive thoughts can improve one’s mindset.
Chapter 8: Imagination – How Thinking Makes It So
In this chapter, Alvaro Pascual-Leone is introduced. He is a neuroscientist who was the first to use Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) in order to map the brain. In order to determine the specific function of a brain area, he fires bursts of TMS that blocks the area from working temporarily, and he then looks at which mental function is lost. Repetitive TMS (rTMS) can turn the brain on for a while and be used therapeutically. Pascual-Leone used TMS to look at changes in finger maps of people who were learning to play the piano. Through this experiment, Pascal-Leone found that mental practice had the same physical changes in the motor system. Additionally, mental chess was a mental practice activity that reduced how much one’s brain degraded. Pascual-Leone also talks about how visualizing an object can keep the brain activated which can improve performance. Monkeys were also used in studies to look at brain activity and it was discovered that physical exercise increased the muscle strength by 30% and imagined exercise increased muscle strength by 22%. Overall, this chapter helped us to see the importance training is essential in neurodevelopment.
After reading this chapter, I believe that the mind is very powerful. For instance, when Pascual-Leone mapped the brains of his blind patients, the research displayed that there was progress at the end of the week. However, at the beginning of the week, the progress would regress. This showed how short term connections were being made in the brain and how long term connections took repetitive practice in order to remain. This reinforced the idea that our brains are affected by the environment, our behavior, and our socialization. I think through further research, medicine can advance by helping determine what types of behaviors affect a person’s brain, as well as person’s ability to cope with a brain injury.
Chapter 9: Turning Our Ghost into Ancestors
In this chapter, Mr. L is introduced. Mr. L suffers from depression and has also had relationship problems with women. His mom died when he was young and his father was unable to take care of him and he was sent to live with his aunt and her husband. Eventually, he felt as if he lost everything that he was attached to and cared about. Mr. L had recurring dreams that he could not explain, which brings us Freud’s belief that recurring dreams are due to early traumas. Because of this dream, Mr. L was able to change his character and learn to love. This shows how this was able to happen because of psychoanalysis and how it can be used as a neuroplastic therapy. Not only does psychoanalysis work, but psychotherapy as well. Psychotherapy can help with mental disorders because it goes into the brain and neurons and changes the structure by turning on the right genes. People often thought that our genes shape our behavior, but Dr. Kandel, a physician and psychiatrist, stated how we shape our genes which then shapes the brain’s anatomy. Psychoanalysis works as a treatment in that it helps those who are troubled by their character.
This chapter continues with Freud’s three plastic concepts. The first plastic concept was that neurons that fire together work together, which created the law of association phenomenon. This phenomenon helps patients where they say anything that comes into their minds. The second plastic concept deals with the critical period and sexual plasticity. Whatever happens during these critical periods effects our ability to love later in life. Freud’s third plastic concept was on the idea of memory. He believed that our memories can be altered by events. His fourth plastic concept was the idea that traumatic memories that are in our unconscious can be transcribed. Overall, it shed lighton how our brain associates trauma with our life.
This chapter was interesting to me because it is eye opening to see how a traumatic experience can affect one’s ability to function. Often times, we tend to push our traumatic experience(s) into the back of our mind because we either don’t remember it as well or we’re not comfortable enough to acknowledge and talk about it. I can relate to this because my experience with my mom’s passing away changed my character. I strayed away from becoming friends with people and often had my guard up because I always had the idea that people were temporary. I thought that not having a strong and emotional bond with someone would prepare me for whenever they left. Essentially, if someone passed away or we stopped talking or being friends, I would not experience the same emotions that I had when my mom passed away because I did not have a strong emotional bond with them. Because the feelings of the passing away of my mom are not talked about, I often deal with it by just thinking about other things, listening to music, or just being silent. Fortunately, I am now able to deal with my emotions better. I think that psychotherapy is a great tool for those who have a mental disorder because it allows people to talk about their problems rather than just being prescribed medication for their disorder.
Chapter 10: Rejuvenation – The Discovery of the Neuronal Stem Cell and Lessons for Preserving Our Brains
In this chapter, Dr. Stanley Karansky is introduced. He decided to do brain exercises that Merzenich and his team developed, and from this, his driving alertness improved. Dr. Karansky’s main focus was to fight off age related memory loss and physical function through exercising the brain and body. Research has shown that physical activity is important when creating new neurons because it stimulates sensory and motor cortex, as well as helps maintain the brain’s balance. This chapter also discusses how the brain’s lateralization gets lost as we age and makes the brain restructure itself. Such as, one hemisphere begins to become less effective which makes the other hemisphere take over.
Furthermore, studies have shown that those who have a mentally active life have better brain function. These studies can play a role in reducing the incidence of Alzheimer’s or dementia. Mental and physical activities won’t prevent Alzheimer’s or dementia but it can be a suggestive study that can reduce the risk of obtaining these diseases. Overall, neural stem cells can be activated and without surgical procedures.
This chapter was interesting because of the thought that there are so many things we can do to maintain our body and brain function. The fact that constantly being active can play a role in reducing age-related memory loss is interesting because people can still get Alzheimer’s or amnesia. Additionally, if being mentally active can reduce age-related memory loss, can people still get Alzheimer’s even though it is genetic? I also believe that physical activity plays a role with body and brain function due to it improving memory and thinking skills. However, I wonder if it helps more with improving one’s mood, which then aids in improving one’s memory and thinking. Furthermore, I believe that there should be more research on different non-surgical procedures that can help prevent Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Chapter 11: More than the Sum of Her Parts
In this chapter, Michelle Mack is introduced to us. Mack is a twenty-nine-year-old woman who was born with only the right hemisphere of her brain. She is able to function well because her right hemisphere took over for her left. Furthermore, Dr. Jordan Grafman, a research scientist and also the chief of the Cognitive Neurosciences Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes, works with Michelle to figure out how the brain works due to his belief that even after injuries, the brain can change and develop throughout life. His main focus is understanding the frontal lobes and neuroplasticity. Through his research, Dr. Grafman was able to identify four kinds of plasticity. The first is map expansion, which occurs when neurons in the center of an area focus more on a task than the one on the outer limit. The second is sensory assignment which happens when one sense is blocked and another area takes over the function that is blocked. The third is a compensatory masquerade which is when the brain has more than one way to do a task. Lastly, the fourth is mirror reign takeover which is when one part of the hemisphere fails and the mirror reign on the other side takes over the function. Overall, with the right training, the brain can adapt and improve for the better.
I think that it is interesting that a woman was able to function well with only one side of her hemisphere. Prior to learning about the brain, I always had the belief that one is only able to function with both hemispheres and that having only one hemisphere won’t allow one to function properly. It’s interesting to see that one hemisphere takes over if the other one no longer works. I am curious to know if having one stronger hemisphere is the reason why some people have strengths in some areas but struggle in other areas. I was also curious if people are left-handed and right handed due to one hemisphere being stronger than another. I also wonder if split brain relates to this chapter. It was stated the one can function without one hemisphere, but can one still function properly similar to Michelle if they have a split brain due to there being a lack of communication between the hemispheres.
Overall, this book has been eye opening and has broadened my thoughts on brain plasticity. The experiments and theories that were discussed in the book shows how amazing our brain is. The main idea that I took from the book is that we can train our brain to do almost anything we want it to do. I believe that it is important to train our brain to think positively.
When I was eighteen, I had scoliosis surgery. It was one of the toughest times that I have experienced because I was in so much pain, I had to relearn how to walk, and I also could not eat, which caused me to look a lot of weight. With the support of my family and friends, I was able to get through this experience. I was also told that being positive can make one healthy. Essentially, having an optimistic attitude can help one have a better and faster recovery and training your mind can help with body and brain function. I think that some people in society are stuck on the idea of whatever happens happen and that nothing can be fixed. They believe that their disorder cannot be fixed or that they won’t be able to function properly. This is one of the reasons why I want to have a career in the medical field. I want to help people feel better and get rid of the thought that there is nothing that can be done. I believe that with the help of research and analyzing case studies, there can be more treatments that can help those in need of assistance with learning disorders, brain and body functions, and traumatic experiences. Furthermore, I want to be able to tell someone that there is always an alternative instead of that there is nothing else that I can do.
Consequently, knowing how one can learn is powerful because it can aid students who have learning issues and adults who fear that their brain function will fade. Being aware of capabilities and what our brain and body is able to do can play a role in rewiring our brain as well as strengthen our ability to learn and unlearn something.