How far does neuroplasticity go? We’ve talked before about improving the brain’s abilities over time. On this blog, we’ve looked at how neuroplasticity allows for boosts in memory, thinking skills, and emotional regulation. But what about recovery after a major trauma – like stroke? Researchers at Johns Hopkins University, led by Steven Zeiler, MD, PhD, […]
How the Brain Works with the Vagus: Empathy and More
When someone’s frowning, or beaming, or gaping in surprise, they’re wearing their heart on their face. That’s because the muscles that control facial expression are linked to the smart vagus, says Stephen Porges, PhD. Thanks to the vagus nerve, the emotions we feel are displayed on our faces and in the sound of our voices. […]
The brain science of fear: Scaring the "fearless"?
Ever known someone who was totally fearless? Justin Feinstein, a clinical neuropsychologist at the University of Iowa, studied a woman who never felt fear. This woman had Urbach-Wiethe disease, a condition that causes the amygdala to calcify – it hardens and shrivels up. Now, we know that the amygdala is responsible for processing stimuli related […]
Rewiring the brain for health – with computers?
You’ve probably heard of the benefits of “brain training” as we age. Whether it’s simple puzzles like crossword or sudoku, or a more involved intellectual hobby, lots of people want to do whatever we can. But brain training isn’t just a folk theory, and a group of researchers from Aix-Marseille University in France wanted to […]
Neuroplasticity: Powerful possibilities . . . with a dark side
We often see neuroplasticity as one of our brain’s greatest assets. The neuroplastic potential to restore function after trauma, resist the deterioration that comes with aging, and bolster core capabilities borders on miraculous. But there’s another side to neuroplasticity . . . In fact, many of the things that bother us about ourselves – our […]