book data
649 ratings,
4.33
average rating, 236 reviews
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published
December 18th 2007
by Penguin Paperbacks
binding
Paperback, 448 pages
isbn
0143113100
(isbn13: 9780143113102)
description
An astonishing new science called neuroplasticity is overthrowing the centuries-old notion that the human brain is immutable. In this revolutionary lo...more
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avg 4.33
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
When I saw this book initially I thought that I would have nothing but unequivocally good things to say about it. I am very fond of ‘brain’ books and prefer to believe that the mind is ‘plastic’ – that it can change itself or re-wire itself. I haven’t got much to pin this hope on. But hope is a good thing. However, in the end my response to this book has been much less black-and-white than I thought it would be.
I’ve also just finished Fooled By Randomness. This has...more
I’ve also just finished Fooled By Randomness. This has...more
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4 comments
Read in September, 2007
So far this book has taught me two things.
1. That I am far more affected than I expected to be by the phrase "sew a kitten's eyelid closed for three weeks..after which the kitten remained permanently blind in one eye."
and
2. Using the word "till" instead of "until" is acceptable in scholarly writing.
For the rest of the information, stay tuned.
Okay, so I finished the book. It was a fulfilling emotio...more
1. That I am far more affected than I expected to be by the phrase "sew a kitten's eyelid closed for three weeks..after which the kitten remained permanently blind in one eye."
and
2. Using the word "till" instead of "until" is acceptable in scholarly writing.
For the rest of the information, stay tuned.
Okay, so I finished the book. It was a fulfilling emotio...more
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(3 people liked it)
1 comment
Read in June, 2008
recommends it for:
anyone with questions about the brain.
This book was a very interesting read. I found it to be a pretty "light" read, in that the science mumbo-jumbo had been effectively translated into English. But that doesn't mean Doidge's claims are unsupported--throughout the text, and in extensive notes, he cites published research results, giving the book plenty of credibility.
The Brain that Changes Itself discusses the (apparently controversial) subject of neuroplasticity. Although many of its claims seem perfectly i...more
The Brain that Changes Itself discusses the (apparently controversial) subject of neuroplasticity. Although many of its claims seem perfectly i...more
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This book is about the plasticity of the brain. That is versus "Localizationism" which holds that the brain is static and each part performs only one function. Modern science, thru the use of MRI, Catscan and observed recoveries of function loss have disproved the long-held notion of localizationism.
The book is really a set of stories about people who have regained or developed senses they either lost or never had. The stories are quite inspiring. For example, one man...more
The book is really a set of stories about people who have regained or developed senses they either lost or never had. The stories are quite inspiring. For example, one man...more
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Read in February, 2008
This is an absolutely fascinating book about how neurologists have discovered in the past thirty years or so that the human brain is much, much more resilient and plastic than it was believed to be for a long time. Neurologists used to think that everyone's brain map was basically the same, with functions like sight or hearing in pretty much the same place, and that if those sections of the brain were damaged, then the function they controlled would be permanently impaired. This didn't explain...more
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Read in July, 2007
This book was absolutely fascinating. I have always been intrigued by how the brain works and, even though I am not a "science" person, I found this book easy to read and thoroughly enjoyable.
The book is about the recent notion that the brain is "plastic," or malleable. Our brain has the ability to change - through learning, through experience, through our thoughts. It was once thought that the brain was "hardwired," and that certain parts of the brain p...more
The book is about the recent notion that the brain is "plastic," or malleable. Our brain has the ability to change - through learning, through experience, through our thoughts. It was once thought that the brain was "hardwired," and that certain parts of the brain p...more
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Read in February, 2009
recommended to Merilee by:
Vickirecommends it for: teachers, those interested in the brain
This book was amazing. Not a real page-turner, but a fascinating look at the brain's ability to rewire itself and grow/change beyond our expectation.
Praise the Lord who made our brains so complex and adept at fulfilling their purpose!
I especially liked the chapters that dealt with autism, and overcoming disabilities. If you are interested in neuroplasticity, brain maps, or just want some ideas about keeping your brain in shape as you age - you may want to read this book...more
Praise the Lord who made our brains so complex and adept at fulfilling their purpose!
I especially liked the chapters that dealt with autism, and overcoming disabilities. If you are interested in neuroplasticity, brain maps, or just want some ideas about keeping your brain in shape as you age - you may want to read this book...more
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This book is so dense and fascinating! It really makes you realize 1.) how little we know about how the brain works and 2.) how much possibility there is for making huge strides in things like brain injury and mental illness even based on that small amount that we now know.
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Read in January, 2008
this is an amazing glimpse into the world of plastic neurology. the idea that the brain is changeable we do not doubt but proof of it is quite extraordinary. the parts with animal experiments are hard to get through ie. sewing monkey's fingers together, especially when attempting sleep. but it is still worth reading and an opportunity to witness the atrocities of animal torture and the depths of human capacity through the will of the mind. 4 stars because of the animal issue. 5 stars without the...more
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Read in February, 2009
recommended to Sam by:
Madalene Fetsch
A great book about neuroplasticity, the relatively new concept in neurology describing the ability of the brain to reorganize itself based on the environment around it. More than most lay-science books, "The Brain That Changes Itself" includes a real aspect of personal triumph. There are many cases of people with severe strokes, severe birth defects or injuries who have taken advantage of the science of neuroplasticity, combined with personal drive and will, to make amazing recoveries ...more
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Read in March, 2009
There's a lot of research going on about the idea of the brain as "plastic". This book talks about different scientists and the research they have done in this area. Especially intriguing was reading about people who have suffered damage to their brains in some form and how the different therapies out there have helped them to lead better lives. As someone with a hearing impairment, I was also intrigued by how different areas in the brain can take over for those that might not work ...more
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The book is about neuroplasticity: the idea that our thoughts and experiences can rewire and change the structure of our brains. This may sound like a revolutionary idea in an age when too many people talk about a brain hardwired by our genes, and the author certainly dramatizes this point and wants to portray his book as representing a novel and ground-breaking idea, but somehow what the book says didn’t come across to me as revolutionary as it claims. Maybe because I’ve already read Ramach...more
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Read in August, 2008
recommended to Carol by:
I stole it from Mom ~ you can have it back now . . .recommends it for: Jeanne, but my Mom all ready has!
Having struggled through numerous medical and psyhological studies and texts during my college years, I can safely say that this book is amazing in its straight-forward, educated approach, while still speaking a language that anyone can understand. It would have been incredibly easy to have written this using medical terminology and while some of it is used, it is not done in a "speaking down to you" sort of way.
Doidge is clearly fascinated by his topic and, more import...more
Doidge is clearly fascinated by his topic and, more import...more
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Read in June, 2008
This was a fascinating book discussing the human brain's incredible potential for change -- called plasticity. As I read it, I felt like I was reading about the beginnings of a huge revolution in our understanding of what the brain is capable of and how to cure disorders of the brain.
I felt like I was also able to correct some of my outdated knowledge. For example, the brain does grow new neurons -- you're not born with all you will have for the rest of your life. Also, there are no...more
I felt like I was also able to correct some of my outdated knowledge. For example, the brain does grow new neurons -- you're not born with all you will have for the rest of your life. Also, there are no...more
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Read in March, 2009
I was wonderfully surprised by this excellent book, which I devoured last weekend when Attila was in Boston. I'd never heard of Dr. Doidge, and I'm endlessly skeptical of, as well as extremely interested in, (intended to be) plebeian accounts of brains. The brain that changes... is profoundly insightful, brilliantly integrating anecdote with historical and contemporary accounts of systems neuroscience research. Highlights include celebrating Dr. Edward Taub's life's work and exploring persona...more
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Read in February, 2009
This will tickle your mind. This discusses some studies plus real life experiences where the brain has reprogrammed itself. The book promotes and defends the concept of plasticity in the brain.
A couple of highlights:
* If you became blind, the brain would find another use for all of those neurons in the occiptal lobe.
* Neurons that fire together, wire together. If you taped 2 fingers together, they would begin to fire together, making it difficult to tell th...more
A couple of highlights:
* If you became blind, the brain would find another use for all of those neurons in the occiptal lobe.
* Neurons that fire together, wire together. If you taped 2 fingers together, they would begin to fire together, making it difficult to tell th...more
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Read in June, 2009
At last, a review of the plasticity of the brain, which Moshe Feldenkrais has been espousing for the last 50 years. A wonderful read. A must for all of us, who are interested in maintaining, and yes, improving, our mental function and capacities as we grow older.
Doidge describes many case studies of neuroplasticians who improve the lives of clients in many many ways.
Doidge describes many case studies of neuroplasticians who improve the lives of clients in many many ways.
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This book made me reexamine what I believed about human behavior, in particular our ability to change. The author refers to neuroscience and brain studies to argue that every time we engage in a behavior, we create or reinforce pathways in our brain. Intuitively we know that the more you practice a skill, the better you get at it. The better you get at something, the less effort it takes. Brain scans demonstrate this process. The concept is known as brain plasticity, which means the brain's abil...more
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Read in December, 2008
A literally life-changing book, The Brain That Changes Itself uses case studies of people who have suffered brain injury to illustrate how the brain changes throughout life, adapting to new conditions with amazing speed and efficiency. This is the kind of book that, while you’re reading it, seems relevant to every conversation and experience.
I happened to be reading it while taking a long-anticipated vacation. For months, I’ve imagined each stop along the way. Now, confronted wi...more
I happened to be reading it while taking a long-anticipated vacation. For months, I’ve imagined each stop along the way. Now, confronted wi...more
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I knew virtually nothing about the topic before reading this book, so I learned a fair bit. The general principles at work are fascinating, and Doidge does a good job making them accessible, but he's also a little bit too in love with his subject material. Each case study stretches too long, and overall the book could shed about 1/3 of its page count without any real loss. Also, one of the main takeaways from this book is that behind every advance in neuroscience, there is a monkey holocaust in...more
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