An astonishing new science called neuroplasticity is overthrowing the centuries-old notion that the human brain is immutable. Psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, Norman Doidge, M.D., traveled the country to meet both the brilliant scientists championing neuroplasticity and the people whose lives they've transformed--people whose mental limitations or brain damage were seen as unalterable. We see a woman born with half a brain that rewired itself to work as a whole, blind people who learn to see, learning disorders cured, IQs raised, aging brains rejuvenated, stroke patients learning to speak, children with cerebral palsy learning to move with more grace, depression and anxiety disorders successfully treated, and lifelong character traits changed. Using these marvelous stories to probe mysteries of the body, emotion, love, sex, culture, and education, Dr. Doidge has written an immensely moving, inspiring book that will permanently alter the way we look at our brains, human nature, and human potential.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
True hope summarized very well for those with mental and physical limitations:
I am a pediatrician who was schooled years ago on the traditional mind maps and felt as I read this excellent summary of clinical and scientific work that there is truly hope on the horizon for those who have had little in the past. We have done a lot for those with heart ailments including transplantation, which is obviously not the brain's potential, however, with the concept of plasticity of brain and retraining there is something real that can be offered. The wonderful summaries of the scientific work... more info
Great News for Those of Us With Brains:
This book is highly readable and very encouraging. I work in the field of Traumatic Brain Injury and found this book full of powerful knowledge about neuroplasticity. The brain can and does recover from injury and insult. This is wonderful news for all of us!
Unbalanced But Very Informative:
"The brain that changes itself" demonstrates the various ways the theoretical plasticity of the brain can produce significant recovery of patients suffering from the most debilitating ailments, including paralysis from stroke, and autism. Prior to the acceptance of the idea that the human brain is surprisingly flexible and adaptable (plastic), most neuroscientists were of the belief that different sections of the brain specialized in specific tasks (localization), and these specialized areas became rigid... more info
Fascinating read.:
What I liked about this book was the hope it holds for all of us that if we persevere on a mental or physical path, we may reach a goal that others think impossible. All those little neurons in the brain that are inching toward each other eventually respond to repetition. It may take a long time, but staying with the task is the key. The case studies were fascinating. There seems to be an explosion of new concepts about the brain and about how to harness its powers in ways we are just beginning to... more info
