Article 1: http://www.wired.co.uk/magazine/archive/2014/05/features/game-your-brain
In your own words, how was the brain rewired according to the article you chose?
Based on the article, the brain was able to be rewired with the help of brain-fitness software. According to Michael Merzenich, the brain is considered to be plastic, which can be remodeled or reconstructed (Su, Veeravagu & Grant, 2016). Based on the example, Ryan had incurred brain damage while driving his friends in a ray boat. From his accident, Ryan’s brain was damaged from a crushed bone resulting in a coma. Due to the crash, his frontal brain lobes were removed which caused some of his brain parts to be omitted.
Surgeons asserted that he could never talk due to the impact caused by accident on his brain. However, with the help of Merzenich, Ryan recovered his memory and ability to speak. His response also improved since Merzenich was able to personalize a program in his brain. The program was able to improve Ryan’s audio abilities and other skills. Additionally, the program also helped enhance Ryan’s cognitive and visual control.
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Identify something new you learned from your chosen article.
From the article, I learned that with the help of science and technology, the brain could be changed and refurbished in many ways. Through neuroplasticity, different parts of the brain can function as it helps in rewiring the brain and improving activities within it (Doidge, 2016). Physical exercise is considered to be among factors that help promote neuroplasticity in the brain. Other factors that may help increase neuroplasticity in the brain are sleep, conducive environment, mitigation of stress and eating a balanced diet. These factors end up promoting connections in the brain and can result in different responses (Calabrese et al., 2014).
Discuss at least one disorder or condition that you believe that neuroplasticity research may help in the future that was not discussed in your article.
Parkinson’s disease is a condition that can be helped through neuroplasticity research. The condition affects the nervous system resulting in tremors and slow body movement. The condition is considered to affect most elderly and middle-aged people. With the help of neuroplasticity and physical exercise, Parkinson’s diseases can be managed. Neuroplasticity may end up improving body movement, especially on the limb side since individuals brain ends up responding to different changes in the environment. In this case, physical exercise such as aerobics is known to promote neuroplasticity (McEwen et al., 2017). In most cases, work-out exercises are deemed to improve the health of the brain. The forced-use exercise can also help promote neuroplasticity to people with the Parkinson’s disease.
Individuals who enjoy exercising can try the force-use exercise since it can help them move their stiff limbs caused by the condition. While using this form of exercise, individuals end up improving their neural network that promotes neuroplasticity (Abbruzzese et al., 2016). Besides the brain, individuals with Parkinson’s disease may also have a healthy heart through exercise. Cognitive activities can also be boosted through the physical exercise in people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. However, patients with Parkinson’s disease are advised to seek guidance from health practitioners on what exercise to undertake, which will end up promoting neuroplasticity in the brain (Petzinger et al., 2015).
References
Abbruzzese, G., Marchese, R., Avanzino, L., & Pelosin, E. (2016). Rehabilitation for Parkinson's disease: current outlook and future challenges. Parkinsonism & related disorders , 22 , S60-S64.
Calabrese, F., Rossetti, A. C., Racagni, G., Gass, P., Riva, M. A., & Molteni, R. (2014). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor: a bridge between inflammation and neuroplasticity. Frontiers in cellular neuroscience , 8 , 430.
Doidge, N. (2016). The brain's way of healing: Remarkable discoveries and recoveries from the frontiers of neuroplasticity . Penguin Books.
McEwen, S., Jarrahi, B., Subotnik, K., Ventura, J., & Nuechterlein, K. (2017). 396. Neuroplasticity Benefits of Adding Aerobic Exercise to Cognitive Training in First-Episode Schizophrenia Patients. Biological Psychiatry , 81 (10), S161-S162.
Petzinger, G. M., Holschneider, D. P., Fisher, B. E., McEwen, S., Kintz, N., Halliday, M., ... & Jakowec, M. W. (2015). The effects of exercise on dopamine neurotransmission in Parkinson’s disease: targeting neuroplasticity to modulate basal ganglia circuitry. Brain plasticity , 1 (1), 29-39.
Su, Y. S., Veeravagu, A., & Grant, G. (2016). Neuroplasticity after Traumatic Brain Injury.
