Monday, September 24, 2012
Brain Plasticity
The idea of brain plasticity gives me hope. Hope that it is not impossible to relearn the things that we already know after sever brain trauma or stroke. If that were to happen to me I would have probably fallen into a state where I think it's impossible to learn how to do things again because biologically some of the neurons have died and I cannot make new ones. Hopeless, right? Wrong!The way the brain compensates on it's own through collateral sprouts which creates new branches that form after damage is amazing. It's strongly emphasized that getting on top of it early on through physical therepy and drug stimulation is best to ensure maximum plasticity. It's seems to be hard work and a long road but there is still hope. I have a cousin who had sever meningits as a teenager, it got so bad that he was mostly in a coma and they had to do surgeries to relieve the pressure in his brain. At first, he couldn't do much, walk or talk or anything. It's been about 10 years since that happened to him and now he talks and can have normal conversations, he can walk with the help of crutches, he drives and has a job. He's not 100 back to the way he used to be but his life has improved significantly. Brain plasticity as I see it, makes the first step for you but you have to take the initiative and do the rest.
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I think that's a great way to put it! Brain plasticity is your body giving you another chance, but you need to do the rest. It's great that your cousin is doing so well. I can't imagine ever being put in the position to re-learn simple things like learning how to talk or how to write, but if it came down to it I would definitely push myself to try.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how your brain can continually change throughout your lifetime, and it's just as amazing to know how adaptable it is. Injure an area of the brain (granted its not a life-taking injury) and other areas can take over its functions.
wow! yes i definitely agree! to be honest i didnt really know what Meningitis was until i read the section and even then i feel the book didnt elaborate enough to give it justice. I dont know what it must be like to have to relive everything all over again, re-learn EVERYTHING. personally i dont think id have the nerve to do it much less the energy to overcome such a big step. it comes across as difficult process thats no where near easy much less fast. the process takes as you said even 10 years, and even then its not a 100% comeback.
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