Currently reading: “The Brain That Changes Itself”
huge thanks to Ricardo for thinking of me when he saw this book and sending it my way. it’s quite literally blowing my mind.
“The cerebral cortex,” he says of the thin outer layer of the brain, “is actually selectively refining its processing capacities to fit each task at hand.” It doesn’t simply learn; it is always “learning how to learn.” The brain Merzenich describes is not an inanimate vessel that we fill; rather it is more like a living creature with an appetite, one that can grow and change itself with proper nourishment and exercise. Before Merzenich’s work, the brain was seen as a complex machine, having unalterable limits on memory, processing speed, and intelligence. Merzenich has shown that each of these assumptions is wrong.
~ Norman Doidge, M.D.
i’m abandoning the localizationism theories we memorized in Basic Sciences and would love to have “neuroplastician” on my business card someday.
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September 10th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Wow – this would be right up my alley – I’ll be adding it to the list for sure. Ever since high school, when our Academic Decathalon team had to study up on the brain science of the day, I’ve been fascinated by this kind of research. I’m not medically versed at all, I just think the brain is in-freakin-credible! :)
September 10th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
I think of you everytime I see a doctorlike book. Its weird how I do that. It’s weird how people you’ve never met in person become such a part of your pysche and inner world. It’s cool actually. I sorta kinda KNOW a doctor. One that I don’t wear a paper gown for. hahahaha… Oh I do know how to make myself laugh.
September 10th, 2009 at 10:44 pm
I wish my brain would change itself to smart.
September 11th, 2009 at 7:08 am
I am with Sarah. I want my brain just to re-wire all the Step 1 stuff in there so I can take the test already!
September 11th, 2009 at 9:23 am
See if you see something in there that explains how or why a dog can get “better” after a stroke.
And oh yeah, I want my brain to rewire to be able to remember things. I get really bad at that.
September 11th, 2009 at 11:01 am
My current book club book is called My Stroke of Insight. It’s fantastic! It’s about a Brain Researcher who, at 37, has a stroke. It’s her personal memoir about her experience and how, over 8 years, she made a full recovery. Written from a rare personal/ medical point of view. It’s a really small book but a fascinating read.
Funny how we all have the brain on the brain! ;)