*

* NEURO = Nervous System

PLASTICITY = “Plastos” (Greek) = Moldable

Neuro + Plasticity = a MOLDABLE

BRAIN
*

“It refers to the physiological

changes in the brain that happen as
the result of our interactions with
our environment. From the time the
brain begins to develop in utero until
the day we die, the connections
among the cells in our brains
reorganize in response to our
changing needs. This dynamic
process allows us to learn from and
adapt to different experiences”
– Celeste Campbell (n.d.).
* Where does it happen?
 * SYNAPSE
Neurons communicate with each other
through a space between them. This
communication is made possible by
chemical messages/ neurotransmitter.

A typical neuron can have thousands

of synapses/ connections w/ other
neurons. Together, they form
extremely complex networks that are
responsible for all brain’s functions.
Synaptic connections, as well as
neurons themselves, can change over
time & this phenomenon is called
neural plasticity or neuroplasticity.
 * Brief History of Neuroplasticity
1900s - Santiago Ramón y Cajal, “father of neuroscience” talked
about “neuronal plasticity”. He recognized that, in contrast to
current belief at that time, brains could indeed change after a
person had reached adulthood.

1906 – originally introduced by Italian psychiatrist named Ernesto

Lugaro. He defined “neuroplasticity” as how the brain can change
throughout life to adapt, learn & recover from brain injury.

1948 - “neuroplasticity” was first used by Polish neuroscientist

Jerzy Konorski in 1948 to describe observed changes in neuronal
structure (neurons are the cells that make up our brains), although
it wasn’t widely used
 * Brief History of Neuroplasticity
1990s - researchers found that stress can actually kill brain cells—
although these conclusions are still not completely certain

For many decades, it was thought that the brain was a

“nonrenewable organ,” that brain cells are bestowed in a finite
amount and they slowly die as we age, whether we attempt to keep
them around or not. As Ramón y Cajal said, “in adult centers, the
nerve paths are something fixed, ended, immutable. Everything
may die, nothing may be regenerated”

This research found that there are other ways for brain cells to die,
other ways for them to adapt and reconnect, and perhaps even
ways for them to regrow or replenish. This is what’s known
as “neurogenesis.”
* Neuroplasticity vs. Neurogenesis

Neuroplasticity - ability of the brain to form

new connections and pathways and change
how its circuits are wired

Neurogenesis - the even more amazing ability

of the brain to grow new neurons
* Types of Neuroplasticity

1. Structural neuroplasticity - strength of the

connections between neurons (or synapses) changes.

2. Functional neuroplasticity - permanent changes in

synapses due to learning and development
(Demarin, Morović, & Béne, 2014)
* A Growth Mindset & Neuroplasticity

Growth Mindset- a mindset that one’s innate skills, talents,

and abilities can be developed and/or improved with
determination

Neuroplasticity- refers to the brain’s ability to adapt and

develop beyond the usual developmental period of childhood.
* Neuroplasticity and Learning
- When we learn, we form new pathways in the brain.
- not all learning is created equal
-dependent on how invested we are in promoting
neuroplasticity and how we approach life in general.

*The concepts (growth mind set & neuroplasticity) mirror

each other; a growth mind set is a mind set that one’s innate
skills, talents, and abilities can be developed and/or improved
with determination, while neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s
ability to adapt and develop beyond the usual developmental
period of childhood.
* Neuroplasticity in Kids
Four main types of neuroplasticity observed in children:
* Adaptive: changes that occur when children practice a
special skill and allow the brain to adapt to functional or
structural changes in the brain (like injuries)
* Impaired: changes occur due to genetic or acquired
disorders
* Excessive:the reorganization of new, maladaptive
pathways that can cause disability or disorders
* Plasticity that makes the brain vulnerable to
injury: harmful neuronal pathways are formed that make
injury more likely or more impactful (Mundkur, 2005).
* Neuroplasticity in Adults
- not absent, but it is generally observed less than in children
and at lower strengths

- can restore old, lost connections and functions that have not
been used in some time, enhance memory, and even
enhance overall cognitive skills

- potential is generally not as great in older adults as it is in

children and young adults, but with sustained effort and a
healthy lifestyle, adults are just as able to promote positive
change and growth in their brains as the younger
generations
* Research & Studies on Neuroplasticity
1. Enriched environments (saturated with novelty, focused attention,
and challenge) are critical for promoting neuroplasticity, and can
provoke growth and positive adaptation long after the “critical
learning period” of early childhood and young adulthood is over
(Kempermann et al., 2002; Vemuri et al., 2014)

2. “Newborn” neurons at 8 weeks old and older neurons are

generally at the same level of maturation (Deshpande et al., 2013);

3. Physical activity and good physical fitness can prevent or slow the
normal age-related neuronal death and damage to the hippocampus,
and even increase the volume of the hippocampus (Niemann et al.,
2014);

4. Chronic insomnia is associated with atrophy (neuronal death and

damage) in the hippocampus, while adequate sleep may enhance
neurogenesis (Joo et al., 2014)
* 7 Benefits Neuroplasticity has on the Brain
1. Recovery from brain events like strokes;
2. Recovery from traumatic brain injuries;
3. Ability to rewire functions in the brain (e.g., if an area that
controls one sense is damaged, other areas may be able to pick
up the slack);
4. Losing function in one area may enhance functions in other
areas (e.g., if one sense is lost, the others may become
heightened);
5. Enhanced memory abilities;
6. Wide range of enhanced cognitive abilities;
7. More effective learning.
* Healing the Brain w/ Neuroplasticity after Trauma
According to researchers Su, Veeravagu, and Grant (2016), there are
three phases of neuroplasticity after trauma:

* Immediately after the injury, neurons begin to die and cortical

inhibitory pathways are decreased; this phase lasts one to two days,
and may uncover secondary neural networks that have never been
used or have been rarely used.
* After a few days, the activity of these cortical pathways changes from
inhibitory to excitatory and new synapses are formed; both neurons
and other cells are recruited to replace the damaged or dead cells and
facilitate healing.
* After a few weeks, new synapses continue to appear and the
“remodelling” of the brain is in full swing—this is the time when
rehabilitation and therapy can help the brain to learn some
helpful new pathways.
* Neuroplasticity Rehabilitation for Stroke Recovery
Neuroplasticity has been observed quite often in those
recovering from strokes. Strokes often leave patients with
brain damage, ranging from moderate (e.g., some facial
muscular impairment) to severe (e.g., serious cognitive
impairments, memory problems); however, we have also
seen amazing recovery from stroke patients.

According to the experts at , the best way to encourage

neuroplasticity in stroke recovery is to use two key
methods:
*Task repetition;
*Task-specific practice
* How can Neuroplasticity Help w/ Depression
*The bad news is that, when it comes to psychiatric
disorders, there’s a sort of negative neuroplasticity;
depression can cause damage to the brain, encouraging
unhealthy and maladaptive pathways and discouraging
healthy and adaptive ones (Hellerstein, 2011).
*The good news is that some treatments for depression
seem to be able to halt the damage and perhaps even
reverse it. The even better news is that research on
neuroplasticity has shown us that “your day-to-day
behavior can have measurable effects on brain structure
and function,” which can offer healing and recovery from
psychiatric disorders
(Hellerstein, 2011).
* Using Neuroplasticity to Help w/ Anxiety
Same principles apply to manage and treat anxiety
disorders—our brains are also perfectly capable of rewiring
and remodelling to improve our ability to manage anxiety.
However, as life coach and clinician Ian Cleary (2015) say:
“Any brain changes are at the expense of other changes.
The development of these parts of our brain that effortlessly trigger
anxiety, it is at the detriment of the ones that aid calmness &
confidence… it is not enough to just stop anxiety in any given
moment which is often people’s focus. The anxiety wiring is still
there and waiting to be triggered. We need to create competitive
wiring. We need to create specific wiring of what we want to
achieve which is ‘competitive wiring’ to the problem. Without this
we loop endlessly in anxiety with no neural pathway to take us
forward.”
* Chronic Pain & Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity can also play an important role in helping people
manage and treat chronic pain. After all, pain itself is experienced
as a set or sequence of neuronal firings—if we can change the
way our brains are wired, what’s to stop us from changing the
experience of pain?
A recent study on the subject found that there are at least four
methods that can help your brain adapt and manage chronic
pain:
* Transcranial direct current stimulation (electrodes implanted in
certain areas of the brain to stimulate certain responses);
* Transcranial magnetic stimulation (non-invasive magnetic
stimulation of the brain via a “wand” to engage specific areas);
* Intermittent fasting (periods of fasting followed by periods of
normal food intake);
* Glucose administration (taking glucose supplements to replace
what we lose due to normal aging; (Sibille, Fartsch,
Reddy, Fillingim, & Keil, 2016).
* Neuroplasticity Therapy for ADHD, OCD, & AUTISM
The methods of using neuroplasticity to treat ADHD, OCD,
and autism largely mirror the methods we have already
covered. There are games, activities, and programs
designed around the principles of neuroplasticity to help
people and children with a wide range of issues and
impairments.

However, they all come down to the same general themes:

“learning new things, being open to new experiences and
new activities, consciously adapting and modifying your thought
patterns, and using science-backed techniques to challenge
yourself.”
* How to Increase Neuroplasticity
*Whole Brain Holistic Thinking
*Practice FLOW
FLOW- is a state of consciousness in which we’re
fully immersed by the task at hand
*Expose yourself to Novelty
*Meditation
*Exercise
*Intermittent Fasting
*Become plastic everyday
*References ….
* Http://secondwindmovement.com/neuroplasticity/
* https://positivepsychology.com/neuroplasticity/?fbclid=IwAR3QWAaPL9I0bbQNGhyHy
VVEd58vFzNV2B6hnkzhLuWF3P2j66lxo426SUw
* https://apexbraincenters.com/2014/05/28/3-real-life-examples-of-brain-plasticity/
* http://siimland.com/how-to-increase-neuroplasticity/