The Brain That Changes Itself

I love to read books that expand my knowledge, this one certainly did, and considering the topical area, surprised it was so engaging…  The Brain That Changes Itself, by Dr. Norman Doidge, captures the developments and new knowledge associated with the brain.  Yes, a neuroscience book, but more story-focused rather than a “text-book.”  It provides individual case studies on people and how science is re-thinking how the brain develops to compensate for losses of one form or another, through accident, deficiency at birth, or sudden change (stroke or other uncontrollable life altering issue).  Doidge is a Canadian-born psychiatrist trained at Columbia University.  Some of the stories include: the woman who continually fell as a result of a deficiency in brain connectivity whom was able to be rehabilitated; a blind woman who started to have her other senses make up for any deficiency in not seeing; people who have had addictions and how they were connected to early childhood traumas that once re-connecting new plasticity in the brain things reconnected to avoid the addictions.  Doidge believes that the brain can be re-built to be a different “connecter” just as muscles can built up from fatigue and non-use.  He provides information on how children with autism benefitted greatly from a program called Fast ForWord, an intensive learning regime that illustrates that deep thinking and concentration on learning over a brief period of time can make substantial gains.  He shares incidences of complete rehabilitation through new approaches to build brain functions, even from a woman who was born with only half a brain!  I love the chapter on imagination.  As a life coach, I have often used the “paint the picture” metaphor for a client to visualize success, and Doidge’s ideas in this chapter are “spot-on”.  While I do not see myself as an expert in this area, I am so interested in hearing about new approaches and ways to enhance people’s thinking, knowing we only use a very small portion of our brains.  This is a great book, simple to read, engaging, and real nuggets for all of us, as he has some suggestions for those who are aging and how to keep the brain active and reducing dementia.  I am really providing a tiny glimpse into this read, pick it up.  Whether an artist or a financial analyst, this book will provide some nuggets and re-framing on how to use the brain a bit more in changing an approach, or helping another who has lost some brain functions.  Gotta love the diversity of interests of NYU students!