المرونة العصبية

The MIT Press Essential Knowledge

by Moheb Costandi, الزهراء سامي (مترجم), هبة عبد العزيز غانم (مراجعة)

قبل خمسين عامًا، كان العلماء يعتقدون أن للدماغ تركيبًا ثابتًا لا يُمكِن تغييره، لكنَّنا نعرف اليومَ أن الدماغ يتغيَّر على مدار الحياة استجابةً للسلوك والخبرات الحياتية، ويتأثَّر في ذلك بكثير من العوامل. يُستخدَم مصطلح «المرونة العصبية» للتعبير عن هذا التغيير، وقد أسَر هذا المفهومُ خيالَ عموم الناس المتلهِّفين لتنمية ذواتهم وتحسين حيواتهم. يقدِّم المؤلِّف عرضًا مُوجزًا ومشوِّقًا لهذه «المرونة العصبية»، بأسلوبٍ سَلِس وبسيط، من خلال عرض النتائج التجريبية الأساسية، ومناقشة تطوُّر أفكارنا عن الدماغ بمرور الوقت. كذلك يَشرح مراحلَ نمو الدماغ مع توضيح أنه يتغيَّر خلال هذه المراحل، مُستشهِدًا بالأبحاث التي تُثبِت نموَّ خلايا جديدةٍ في الدماغ المُكتمِل النمو. يُناقِش الكتابُ أيضًا فكرةَ «تدريب الدماغ» من خلال المواظَبة على أداءِ مهامَّ إدراكية، مِثل عزفِ آلة موسيقية أو تعلُّمِ لغةٍ جديدة وممارَستها. ويتناول الكتابُ أيضًا الجانبَين الإيجابي والسلبي للمرونة العصبية؛ إذ إنها تتجلى في قُدرة الدماغ المدهِشة على تعويض مختلِف أنواع الإصابات والتلف، وفي الوقت نفسه قد يَنجم عنها السلوكُ الإدماني حين يتكيَّف الدماغ على مادةٍ معيَّنة.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Neuroscience, Psychology, Brain, Biology, Audiobook

124 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2016

About the author

Moheb Costandi, trained as a neuroscientist, is a science writer based in London whose work has appeared in publications including Nature, Science, New Scientist, and Scientific American. He is the author of Neuroplasticity (MIT Press) and 50 Human Brain Ideas You Really Need to Know.

Reviews

[الشناوي محمد جبر · Rating 2 out of 5]

قرأت في مضمون هذا الكتاب كثيرا
المضمون حول قدرة الجهازالعصبي البشري علي إجراء تعديلات في وظائف خلاياه بمرونة فائقة لمواجهة كافة المتغيرات البيئية والعصبية المحيطة
يمكن من خلال هذه المرونة أن يتعلم الإنسان الكثير من المهارات الجديدة في اي وقت وفي اي مرحلة عمرية
يمكن من خلال هذه المرونة أن يتخطي الإنسان عقبات تلف بعض خلايا المخ بسبب الحوادث أوغيرها وتقوم بعض خلاياه بعمل وظائف مكان الخلايا التالفة
يمكن لفاقد البصر من خلال المرونة العصبية أنيكتسب مهارات يعجزعنها المبصر
وهكذا

[emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘—the structural and functional differences between individual brains probably outweigh their similarities. It’s very likely that no two brains are alike and, therefore, that there is no such thing as a “textbook brain.” Your brain is, to a large extent, unique, custom-built from the life experiences you have had since being in your mother’s womb, to meet the demands you place on it today. Neuroplasticity therefore lies at the heart of what makes us human, and of what makes each of us different from everyone else.’

If you are willing to appreciate the text as a simple ‘intro’ then you’re in for a bloody fantastic treat, otherwise head over to Springer/etc. perhaps (or elsewhere; what do I know, really); in any case, to me this was nothing less than a pleasure to read. Well organised/structured, not much fluff, and kept close to the topic/subject without straying off to irrelevant/too-personal tangents. Not dense at all, rather light and easy-to-digest, but so rewarding and leaves one (for better/worse) with even more insatiable curiosity.

‘Sixty years ago, the idea that nervous tissue can change was anathema to neuroscience. It was widely believed that the mature brain is a fixed structure and, therefore, that “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” This dogma has since been overturned by a huge body of research which shows not only that the brain can change, but also that it changes continuously throughout life, in one way or another, in response to everything we do and every experience we have.

Neuroplasticity is a catch-all term referring to the many different ways in which the nervous system can change. It is ill-defined by neuroscientists, who use it to describe a wide variety of phenomena. Among the general public, the concept is generally misunderstood, and misconceptions about what neuroplasticity is, and what it is capable of, are rife.’

Some bits interested/attracted me more than others, as expected. I’m more interested in ‘maintenance’ and ‘flexibility’ rather than ‘repair’ (to horribly simplify this). In other words, I was less interested in the Alzheimer’s and Parkinson related chunks, and lingered a little longer on the chapters regarding how language-learning and certain physical habits/sports activates and/or re-activates certain parts of the brain (and/or affect the way our brain function in the short and long-run). And of course the myth-busting, stereotype-breaking bits are satisfying reads to say the least. I like how it was all presented and explained without a patronising tone (and obviously this is so important to one’s reading experience). Coherent, concise; fit for any curious reader.

‘Neuroimaging data can sometimes seem counterintuitive and are often difficult to interpret. One recent study compared brain activity of professional soccer players and swimmers while they performed identical foot movements, and found that the soccer players exhibited less activity in the motor cortical area corresponding to the foot than did the swimmers. The researchers interpreted this as meaning that years of training enable the soccer players to control their foot movements efficiently while also conserving their neural resources—we are only just beginning to understand the many ways in which it can adapt to the demands placed upon it. Technological advances will allow for increasingly sophisticated ways of imaging the brain, and will surely deepen our knowledge of how different types of training affect brain structure and function.’

‘Other research shows that early prescription of fluoxetine (Prozac) and related antidepressants enhances motor recovery after three months in stroke patients undergoing physiotherapy. It’s still not clear why this is the case, however. This group of drugs is known to have anti-inflammatory effects, which may protect the patient’s brain from further damage; they may also facilitate relearning by promoting LTP in newly formed motor pathways.’

Haven’t really found/stumbled on a text intentionally or otherwise written more in-depthly/properly about ‘pain’ or how we process/manage (mostly physical?) pain in a more orderly/systematic way. Would love to, and am still keen about it, but while that is pending/out-of-reach, I will settle for these bits.

‘Addiction and pain are the best understood examples of conditions involving maladaptive forms of neuroplasticity. Addictive drugs activate and hijack the brain’s reward system, and the resulting changes can remain long after the substance has been cleared from the brain, leading to cravings and to compulsive, drug-seeking behaviour. Prolonged pain can induce reorganisation of the spinal cord circuitry involved in processing and then transmitting painful stimuli up to the brain, and these changes can similarly persist long after the stimuli that initially caused the pain have been removed, resulting in chronic pain states that can persist for months or years.’

‘Plastic changes can occur at the peripheral end of pain-sensing neurons beneath the skin, as well as at the synapses they form with second-order sensory neurons in the spinal cord. Activation of the protein sensors rapidly redistributes them in the nerve terminal and alters their functional properties to lower their activation threshold. This hypersensitizes the damaged tissue, so that otherwise innocuous stimuli are perceived to be painful, which aids repair by minimising contact with the damaged tissue. It also increases the firing rate of the pain-sensing neurons, and increases the probability of neurotransmitter release from their nerve terminals in the spinal cord.

These short-term changes are usually reversible. Under some circumstances, however, there can be longer-lasting modifications to the pain system. During inflammation, growth factors released from damaged cells can trigger the synthesis and trafficking of pain receptors and their related signalling molecules in pain-sensing neurons, sensitising the cells to painful stimuli. Trains of impulses generated by these cells can then induce LTP at synapses in the spinal cord. This amplifies the response of the secondary sensory neurons to incoming pain signals, so that repetitive, low-frequency signals produce a progressively larger output—a process called wind-up.

Chronic or persistent pain is also associated with functional and structural changes in the primary somatosensory cortex, but different kinds of pain and injuries affect these changes in different ways. For example, cortical representation of the painful fingers expands in carpel tunnel syndrome, perhaps exacerbating the pain felt by sufferers, while the representation of affected body parts shrinks in complex regional pain syndrome, possibly through disuse. Cortical reorganisation occurs in several steps: within minutes of the initial injury, previously inhibited connections are “unmasked”; later on, axonal sprouting may occur within the tissue being reorganised.’

In any case, really enjoyed reading this, and would love for the writer to go on and write a longer, more in-depth book about neuroplasticity and/or alike.

[Angela Blount · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pleasantly worded, accessible little primer to the history, development, foibles, and basic concepts of the currently known science behind neurology.

Constandi offers a foundational overview more so than a functional application guide--which I think is important to note before reading. With all the recent interest in brain rewiring, I had mistaken this for more of an explanation of limitations and uses. But I don't regret anything beyond its brevity, it was such an engaging read.

I particularly appreciated the attention drawn to how long the scientific community wrongly regarded the brain as an unchangeable thing beyond a certain age. Up until very recently, the assumption was irreproachable, and it took a staggering amount of evidence to force the change of perspective. It's a humbling and cautionary lesson--one that I hope all branches of science can learn from. One has to wonder how much further we might have advanced in neurology if so many hadn't clung to the established assumptions for so very long...

[Onur Arpat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ismi nedeniyle sadece sinirbilimsel bir fenomeni anlatiyor gibi gorunse de, bu fenomenin dogasindan oturu temel sinirbilime ve sinirbilim tarihine dair cok sey ogreten bir kitap Nöroplastisite. Yazar Moheb Costandi sinirbilim okumayi sevenlerin asina oldugu bir isim, cok basarili bir anlatici.

Kitapla ilgili daha ayrintili bir inceleme: http://noroblog.net/2019/02/27/degise...

Beyin hakkinda okumak isteyenlere kesinlikle tavsiye ederim.

[Javier B · Rating 2 out of 5]

Es probablemente un buen libro para quienes tengan sólidos conocimientos de ciencias de la salud. No se puede considerar realmente un libro de divulgación.

[Radwa Ammar · Rating 4 out of 5]

#radwa_reads
كتاب :- المرونة العصبية
الكاتب :- محب كوستاندي
التتقييم :- ٤/٥

صيغة ممتعة، تمهيدي صغير سهل الوصول للتاريخ، التطور، النواقص، والمفاهيم الأساسية للعلم المعروف حاليًا وراء علم الأعصاب.
كونستاندي يقدم نظرة عامة تأسيسية أكثر من دليل تطبيقات وظيفي.
أقدر بشكل خاص الانتباه إلى مدى اعتبر المجتمع العلمي الدماغ بشكل خاطئ كشيء غير قابل للتغيير بعد عمر معين. حتى وقت قريب جدا، كان الافتراض لا يمكن التخلص منه، واستغرق الأمر كمية مذهلة من الأدلة لإجبار تغيير المنظور. إنه درس متواضع وحذري - درس أتمنى أن تتعلم منه جميع فروع العلوم. يجب أن يتساءل المرء إلى أي مدى كان من الممكن أن نتقدم في علم الأعصاب إذا لم يتشبث الكثيرون بالافتراضات المعمول بها لفترة طويلة جدا.
——————-
ما لا يعجبني في الكتاب:
استخدام الحيوانات بطريقة وحشية لإجراء حروب علمية لا أدري هل خضع هؤلاء العلماء لقانون في استخدامهم لهذه الحيوانات أم لا ولكن هذا جانب وحشي أستاء منه كثيرا

[Kin · Rating 5 out of 5]

น่าจะเป็นเล่มท้ายๆ ที่อ่านจบในปีนี้ละ ดีงามมาก ให้ไอเดียพื้นฐานเกี่ยวกับประสาทวิทยาศาสตร์ได้กระชับและเข้าใจง่ายเลย technical terms ซึ่งเป็นสิ่งจำเป็นก็ไม่ได้เยอะและยากเกินกว่าที่คนที่ไม่ได้เรียนมาทางนี้จะทำความเข้าใจได้เลย ที่ชอบเป็นพิเศษคือการให้ภาพคร่าวๆ ว่าไอเดียเกี่ยวกับสมองในแวดวงวิทยาศาสตร์มันเปลี่ยนไปอย่างไรบ้าง นับตั้งแต่รามอน อี กาฆาล เป็นต้นมา สนุกดีครับ ใครสนใจงานของพวกนักปรัชญาที่หยิบจับเอาความรู้ด้านประสาทวิทยาศาสตร์ไปใช้ หันมาอ่านอะไรแบบนี้ก่อนก็ดี ช่วยปูพื้นได้มาก โดยเฉพาะคอนเซปต์บางอย่างที่สายสังคมศาสตร์ดั้งเดิมอาจจะไม่คุ��นเคย เช่น plasticity ซึ่งเป็นคอนเซปต์หลักในงานช่วงหลังของ Catherine Malabou

[Morgan Blackledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very well crafted, extremely brief primer on precisely what the title suggests – neuroplasticity.

[Thant Zin Kyaw · Rating 2 out of 5]

The topic too big, the book too small.

[Karina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sehr lehrreich und informativ. Eins der 2 Bùcher in der Hochschule Bibliothek, das von Neuroplastizität berichtet, ein Thema das aktuell nicht so stark vertreten ist aber in der nahen Zukunft ein großer Trend sein wird. Also beschäftigt euch mit dem Thema und beginnt jetzt schon euer Gehirn zu reprogrammieren. Es ist nie zu spät seinem Gehirn was Gutes zu tun.
1 Stern Abzug, weil ich mir mehr Tiefe gewünscht hätte.

[Ozlem · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short book I turn to find hope, whenever loss of executive, social, memory, attention, motor...functions of the brain gets scary for me.

Good excuse for adding routines, quality sleep, eating and exercise into your life

[Nils · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read! Well written!

[Ahmed Mohamed · Rating 5 out of 5]

كتاب يمكنه أن يقدم لك الكثير ، عن عقلك و كيفية عمله

[Roy Madrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent overview of nervous system development and growth. If you're interested in how your brain/nerves work and grow, highly recommend.

[being Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book on how the brain works, the beauty of neuroplasticity and as well as the promising future it brings. Quite challenging if you haven't read any related brain book, nevertheless, it gets to the point.

[C. Patrick G. Erker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This year at work, I've been focused on the topic of learning and talent development in the digital age. In a fast-moving world increasingly changed by automation and digitization, the role of humans is changing rapidly. Every month, it seems, there's another study about which jobs are no longer safe, or a new technological advancement threatening previously secure, uniquely human, roles.

I tend to be an optimist when it comes to humans' continued role in the economy, although I believe that people need to reassess how secure their current and future roles are, and what it means for their own "learning journeys." One core belief underlying that optimism is the notion that the human brain is among the world's most impressive and dynamic "machines," capable of we-still-don't-know-what. And part of that dynamism is the brain's ability to evolve and change itself. Costandi's introductory book, Neuroplasticity, provides a welcome layman's overview on a topic that has gotten increased coverage and is seen by many to be among humanity's critical arrows in its non-machine quiver.

The book is one among many in MIT's Essential Knowledge Series (other books include Auctions, Free Will, MOOCs, and Waves). It provides an introduction to neuroplasticity, and several chapters of importance, from developmental plasticity, to adult neurogenesis, to addition and pain, and others. At ~150 pages of content, it's a fairly quick read as brain books go. But it's not as layman friendly as this layman would have liked. Perhaps this is a fair compromise to make, to keep it to a short intro. But I personally, with no formal training in brain science, found the anatomically oriented descriptions of brain processes and behaviors occasionally difficult to follow.

That being said, I enjoyed the book. It reaffirmed what I'd read in books such as The Brain the Changes Itself and others, that the brain is indeed a powerful structure, capable of adapting to its environment and various stimuli long past adolescence. However, it also cautioned, rightfully, that such changes are not limitless, and that there is a downside to such plasticity (such as addition or pain). (Doidge similarly gives such caution in his book.)

As a soon to be father (our due date is today, as I write this), I was also reminded that our son's first few months on earth are critical to setting him on the right path. We need to show him our love and care, to expose him to various sensory stimulations, and talk to him. The book also notes, albeit briefly, that there is emerging evidence on changes to the father's brain as a result of fatherhood. (It notes that the first four months of the baby's life are the most important in building the bonds between father and child. I will definitely be making the effort to build that bond as closely as possible during those first few months!)

[Layan Fathi · Rating 4 out of 5]

هذا الكتاب قد احدث ثورة عقليه كبيرة بداخلي

لم أجده كتابًا عاديًا بل وجدته وسيله لأن استطيع ان اختبر العالم بشكل اعمق واوسع وقدرتي على التعلم تصبح اكبر

لطالما تساءلت عن أن المشاعر مصنفه بااسماء لكي يسهل تناقلها ، ماذا ولو لم تكن تلك المشاعر هي عينها التي يختبرها الآخرون ؟ ماذا لو ان هناك مشاعر لم تصنف والشخص حينها يختبرها بشكل اكبر؟ ماذا لو ان هناك اشخاص لايعتقدون بقصر الحياه لأنهم وصلو الى العقل الذي بأمكانه التعلم والشعور بشكل أعمق !

عندما قرأت هذا الكتاب وجدت تأخرًا واضحًا في علم النفس ، وجدت ان معظم المضطربين عقليًا لم يستطيعو ان يتعافو بالشكل الكامل لانه اعتمد على ادوات لم تُحدث ولم تواكب ثورة مرونة الدماغ العصبيه

لكني حقيقة مذكرتي كانت تلازمني ، ومحرك البحث امام ناظري التجأت للبحث الدؤوب لفهم تشريح الدماغ وكيف تتم العمليات لم اشعر ان الكاتبه كانت ناجحه بالشرح الجيد لتركيبة الدماغ والعمليات التي تحدث به


ادركت بعد هذا الكتاب انه لاتكفي فهم الدوافع والجذور بل علينا الألتفات الى تغير الوصلات العصبيه ونقص المواد والدماغ وقلة التشابكات ، وكيف يتم تطويرها بحيث الادوات يصبح من السهل تعلمها وامتصاصها

على الرغم من اندهاشي الا اني قد وجدت خيبة بداخلي كبيره على أن علم النفس نظرياته تعتبر متأخرة وليس مربوطًا بشكل واضح بعلم الأعصاب


اقرب مثال قد يتم فيه شرح على فكرتي هو الأدمان، الأدمان يحدث تأثيرات بالدماغ كبيره جدًا وتصبح العمليه صعبة جدًا والتعافي منها ايضًا صعب وان لم يتم تعافي الدماغ بالشكل الصحيح حتى ولو اقلع الأنسان الا انه هناك ماسيكون هناك نزعة ادمانيه تتحدث كل مره وتسعى الى الوصول الى المكآفات بشكل أسرع ، الأدمان يقلل من كثافه المادة الرماديه التي تقع بها الخليه العصبيه والتشابكات العصبيه ، كل مازادت التشابكات العصبيه كل مازادت قدره التعليم كونها سريعه بتوصيل المعلومات والبروتينات الازمه، وتقل كثافة المادة الرمادية بااماكن حساسه للغايه ، مثل قشرة الفص الجبهي المسؤوله عن الذاكره وضبط الانفعالات واتخاذ القرارت ، في هذه الحاله لن ينفع بتاتًا الحديث ولن ينفع ان تفهم الدوافه او المشاعر ، لأن الدماغ اصبح من الصعب عليه ان يتأخذ قرارً واضحًا وان يتحكم في رغبتة بالحصول على المكأفاه، او حتى يستطيع التحكم بالانفعالات

في تجربة ذكرت عن تجربة تم إجرائها على الفئران حيث وضع هناك طعام واقطاب كهربائية لتحفيز حس المكأفاة كان من الغريب ان الفئران قد توجهت دائمًا للآقطاب لتحفيز المتعه وان تتجاهل الطعام حتى وهي شديده الجوع

[Anthony O'Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reassuring

It’s nice to be reminded that the brain is an amazing adaptable learning machine throughout an entire lifetime. And that an old ( or older ) donkey is still capable of learning new tricks. In a short space there is a considerable (and sometimes daunting) level of detail of relevant historical neuroscience results. Ie relating to plasticity as opposed to the old view that in early adulthood the brain freezes into a ice block of fixed connections never to change much again. The politico/economic factors/dogmas/practises behind such a view are not investigated or even mentioned.
I was horrified when I first learnt years ago that 50,000 brain cells die off every day - and an additional 25,000 per shot of whiskey. You start off with only 100 billion and they never grow back. You do the math.
The discovery of not just plasticity but actual neurogenesis was a great relief. New brain cells even in adults! But as this book makes clear only in the hippocampus, not that many, and the function of the new growth is not that clear. So maybe still lay off the whiskey.
The book warns of any simplistic application of notions of neuroplasticity to the self development industry. And warns of a few marketing gimmicks around products most likely useless.

[Jina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not sure if this book is for the “general reader” as it does it get quite technical from time to time. There were paragraphs here and there full of information that went well and truly over my head. However, the author does do a good job summarizing what the reader should be taking away. Interestingly, most of our understanding of how our brain works is done by studying rodents and sometimes primates, rather than actually studying our own. With scientific advances, this is changing, though, thanks to new machines and techniques that allows researchers to gather data from a living, human patience without causing any sort of damage. It’s interesting to me that science was once so sure that the brain hardened like a clay mold and stopped growing. It’s even more interesting that they are still trying to pinpoint when this stops happening (estimating around the late 20s, early 30s). I’d almost want to argue the brain never stops adapting, growing, changing - the process just slows down - sort of like all aging cells.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very concise and to the point! It was really interesting learning not only about how neuroplasticity works, but addressing some of the myths around it. It might be difficult to understand for a person who is not familiar with some basic structures and ideas about the human brain, as the book does not go into extreme detail on some topics relating to the central ideas. Overall, an interesting and quick read, and very informative!

[Ben DeCuyper]

This is the first neuroscience book I’ve read. While prefacing this book with an introductory book on the brain may have made the initial chapters easier, Costandi offers a good introduction to the brain’s role in the entire nervous system. Since the book focuses specifically on neuroplasticity, the scope goes beyond the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) to also discusses plasticity in the peripheral nervous system (nerves that branch off the spinal cord and extend to all parts of the body). The book outlines the positives of neuroplasticity such as learning and sustained training (consistency is key!) but also discusses the downsides such as addiction. Neuroplasticity also plays a major role in the brain’s ability to recover from damage and impairment. The role of constraint-induced therapy (“forcing a patient to use the weakened limbs as much as possible by tying back the unaffected ones), penalization therapy (in which a dominant eye is patched in order to increase the stimulus of a weaker eye), and more generally, sensory substitution show how plasticity facilitates rehabilitation. Depravation of senses not only improves the function of other sensory cortexes but also the deprived cortex (e.g. visual) can rise to perform non-sensory tasks (e.g. language). Hence, blind people outperform sighted subjects in verbal memory tests. (p. 26)

Strokes are briefly mentioned, however, I would’ve appreciated an aside on how seizures affect changes in the brain. Also, the book would’ve benefited from more diagrams.

The key to improving cognition is choosing mental exercises that yield transfer effects.

Most people have heard of neurons. The nervous system includes other cells including glial cells, schwann cells and oligodendrocytes (the latter two produce myelin). Because they are more obscure, and likely because of Costandi’s way of describing them, I found them to be the unsung heroes of the nervous system (at least for the general public).

Neurogenesis is most prominent in the prenatal stage, however, it continues throughout one’s lifetime. This is something Santiago Ramón y Cajal, the father of neuroscience, got wrong. Significant life changes, such as becoming a parent, yield changes in the brain. The conclusion is very enlightening, specially the subsection titled “Novel Forms of Neuroplasticity.” How do you map a landscape that is constantly changing?

[Paul Tenorio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book explores the concept of neuroplasticity, which refers to the brain's ability to reorganize and change throughout life. Here's a summary of the book:

Costandi's book delves into the fascinating and groundbreaking discoveries in the field of neuroscience, specifically focusing on the concept of neuroplasticity. He discusses how the brain is not a fixed and unchangeable organ but rather a highly adaptable and flexible structure.

The book delves into the various aspects of neuroplasticity, explaining how the brain is capable of rewiring itself in response to learning, experiences, injury, or changes in the environment. It explores the mechanisms and processes through which the brain adapts, such as synaptic pruning, the creation of new neural connections, and the role of various neurotransmitters in these processes.

Costandi illustrates how neuroplasticity is significant not only in terms of recovery from brain injuries but also in everyday life, impacting memory, learning, and skill acquisition. He presents examples of individuals who have harnessed neuroplasticity for rehabilitation and improvement after brain trauma or strokes.

Moreover, the book discusses the role of neuroplasticity in various neurological conditions and mental health disorders. It emphasizes the potential for new treatments and therapies based on an understanding of how the brain changes and adapts.

Overall, "Neuroplasticity" by Moheb Costandi provides an accessible and informative overview of the brain's remarkable ability to reorganize and adapt, shedding light on the far-reaching implications of neuroplasticity in human life, rehabilitation, learning, and potential medical interventions in neuroscience.

[Bahar Öztekin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kitabı elime aldığımda boyutu yüzünden hayal kırıklığı yaşamıştım (cep boy ölçüsünde) ve direkt önyargıyla okumaya başlamıştım. Ama beyinle ilgili öncesinde çok fazla okuma yapmış olmama rağmen bu kitapta ilk defa karşılaştığım birsürü yeni bilgi öğrendim. Beyindeki nöron sayısının, önceden zannedildiğinin aksine sabit olmadığını ve kendisinin sürekli değişim gösterdiğini artık biliyoruz. Beynin bu kendini dönüştürme/yeniden şekillendirme yeteneğine nöroplastisite diyebiliriz kısaca. Kitapta araştırmalar ve vakalar üzerinden bu özelliğin nitelikleri tartışılıyor. Hem umut vaat eden hem de günümüzde teknolojinin hâlâ beynin fonksiyonel ve moleküler görüntülemesi açısından yetersiz olduğunu ve en azından yakın zaman için tedavi konusunda çok fazla beklentiye girmememizi telkin eden bir kitaptı. Beynin işleyişine merakı olan herkese öneririm. Beyindeki Hayaletler kitabı kadar çok sevdim bu kitabı.

[Akbar Madan · Rating 4 out of 5]

يعتبر العالم إي كاخال ابو العلوم العصبية وأول من أدعى أن دماغ الإنسان البالغ ثابت غير مرن إلا أنه أثبت بعد عدة اختبارات قدرة الدماغ على المرونة والتجديد ، وهي فكرة تخلق الأمل عند الإنسان في تنشيط المشابك العصبية من خلال مزيد من التعلم وكسب الخبرات حتى سن متأخر ، وترتبط عملية التعلم واكتساب الخبرات بمحددات مهمة لحركة بناء المشابك العصبية داخل الدماغ ، خصوصا خلال عملية التقليم لتلك المشابك في فترة نمو الدماغ وكأن الدماغ يمارس الاصطفاء الطبيعي على المشابك العصبية فبقدر ما ينتج من مشابك في فترة النمو زائدة عن الحاجة بشكل كبير جدا ، يتخلص من جزء كبير منها في نفس الفترة و يستبقي على المشابك الأفضل لعمليات الاتصال العصبية داخل الدماغ ، لذلك تطور الدماغ جاء لتلبية ضرورات التكيف البيئي .
لقد قيل من زمن بعيد أن دماغ الإنسان هو الصورة المصغرة لتعقيد الكون كله ، هي قصة الإنسان في أفضل معانيها حين يكشف الإنسان عن أسراره الخاص الكامنة فيه .

[Paul Ataua · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s great to know that despite all the excellence that is MIT, it can still produce a very dull introduction to neuroplasticity for the interested layman. I have read some on the topic over the years so chose the audio version hoping to get a new take or further informatio and had no complaint about the narrator. The content, however, was very much an information dump and it was like being thrown back decades into a university lecture hall with a lecturer eyes directed down to the podium reading page after page of facts without any desire to make it interesting or compunction to stimulate. Yes, everything you may need in an introduction is there, but you may have to suffer to get it. Well, no pain, no gain!

[Brajan Kowalski · Rating 4 out of 5]

The reader is informed of the current state of what is known about neuroplasticity, and current issues are clearly outlined.

The book is not written in a simple enough for the layman to pick up and read without any background knowledge of brain anatomy or function. However, the motivated reader should be able to understand all concepts presented in the book with minimal effort using other sources, such as a quick Wikipedia search.

As a student of related fields I found this book a great introduction to brain changes and found explaintions of certain concepts and processes fantastic.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really fascinating! It’s amazing what our brains are capable of. What I found most interesting were the parts of the book that talk about how the brain rearranges itself a little bit to find different ways of accomplishing tasks when someone has a disability or a life changing health incident. There were a few times where the terminology got overwhelming, but overall I think the author did an excellent job of introducing the topic in layman’s terms. The Essential Knowledge series has been really great so far.

[Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find that some sections of this books go too deep into describing the specific processes that undergo into the brain that are too complicated for the general reader the book is aimed to.

The subject is of course still under study and research is not capable of giving answers to the many questions that the book raises, which unfortunately leave the reader with a sort of sad aftertaste.

The sections that talk more about what we do know and especially how our brains change in relation to age, environment, experience and our actions are the easiest to follow for a general reader.

[Iliiaz Akhmedov · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely amazing, let me explain why!

Step 1: looks like it's about my brain and how i could change... 😴

Step 2: hmm... i now understand my brain and myself at another level, isn't that kinda cool?? 🤔

Step 3: this book is about brain's ability to change.. wait, wait... didn’t that just happen above..?! 🤨

They explain how we could get rewired. Now imagine you are actually doing above everyday. Seems kinda interesting, right??

PS: the reading is smooth and this is only ~150+ pages, I think, you should read this.

[Damarys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mi 2do libro leído sobre el tema, este es un poco más actual, si no haz leído nada del tema se te puede poner un poco denso, ya que, en muchas partes asume que conoces de anatomía básica y fisiología.

Me gustó particularmente 3 capitulos: el 5 sobre neurogenesis adulta, el 6 de entrenamiento mental y el capítulo 9 de cambios cerebrales de por vida. Las conclusiones las encontré un poco flojas y diluidas.

Un libro corto, explicado fácil que te permite conocer cuáles son los nuevos consensos en neurociencia.