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For many years, the consensus was that the human brain couldn't generate new cells once it reached adulthood. Once you were grown, you entered a state of neural decline. This was a view perhaps most famously expressed by the so-called founder of modern neuroscience, Santiago Ramón y Cajal. After an early interest in plasticity, he became sceptical, writing in 1928, "In adult centres the nerve paths are something fixed, ended, immutable. Everything may die, nothing may be regenerated. It is for the science of the future to change, if possible, this harsh decree." Cajal's gloomy prognosis was to rumble through the 20th century.
[...] This, then, is the truth about neuroplasticity: it does exist, and it does work, but it's not a miracle discovery that means that, with a little effort, you can turn yourself into a broccoli-loving, marathon-running, disease-immune, super-awesome genius. The "deep question", says Chris McManus, Professor of Psychology and Medical Education at University College London, is, "Why do people, even scientists, want to believe all this?" Curious about the underlying causes of the neuroplasticity craze, he believes it is just the latest version of the personal-transformation myth that's been haunting the culture of the West for generations.
[...] Even the people whose lives are being transformed by neuroplasticity are finding that brain change is anything but easy. Take recovery from a stroke. "If you're going to recover the use of an arm, you may need to move that arm tens of thousands of times before it begins to learn new neural pathways to do that," says Downey. "And, after that, there's no guarantee it's going to work." Scott says something similar about speech and language therapy. "There were dark days, say, 50 years ago, where if you'd had a stroke you didn't get that kind of treatment other than to stop you choking because they'd decided it doesn't work. But now it's becoming absolutely clear that it does, and that it's a phenomenally good thing. But none of it comes for free."
On the other hand, the new brain hackers are using electro-stimulation to make it easier to re-wire pathways.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by jelizondo on Thursday November 19 2015, @10:27PM
One of the most pernicious beliefs of our age is that you can become anything you want, if you only push yourself hard enough. Which is a great way of misleading people into thinking that if they are not rich, good-looking and awesome, it is all their own fault.
How much training would it take to out-run Usain Bolt? I’ll tell you, no amount is sufficient. I know because 20 or 30 other guys who train just as hard as him show up in every competition and are defeated. He’s got an extra dose of stamina or whatever that no amount of will power can overcome.
How many kids today dream of being the next Messi? How many will reach that level? Maybe one out of, literally, millions. We are in awe of Messi because he is unique, not because every John can do it.
Don’t make enough money? Probably it is because you don’t work hard enough, you lazy SOB. Not because Wall Street is keeping you down or the rich want to get every last cent out of your pocket.
So break from this belief which places the blame squarely on you when there are many external factors, from economic and social inequality, bad nutrition (*), genes, environment and to your family surroundings which conspire against you.
(*) Probably caused by big companies intent on selling you stuff that tastes great.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Friday November 20 2015, @01:15PM
How much training would it take to out-run Usain Bolt?
Hop in a car and you can outrun Usain Bolt.