The Custom-Made Brain: Cerebral Plasticity, Regeneration, and Enhancement
Pierre-Marie Lledo and Jean-Didier Vincent
Abstract
This book introduces the concepts of “cerebral plasticity” and the “regenerating brain,” describing what we know now about the processes through which the brain constantly reconstructs itself and the potential benefits this knowledge could have in addressing concerns for neurological, cognitive, and emotional health. It begins with a survey of the fundamental scientific developments that have led to our current understanding of the regenerative mind, elucidating the breakthrough neurobiological studies that paved the way for our present understanding of the brain's plasticity and regenerative ... More
This book introduces the concepts of “cerebral plasticity” and the “regenerating brain,” describing what we know now about the processes through which the brain constantly reconstructs itself and the potential benefits this knowledge could have in addressing concerns for neurological, cognitive, and emotional health. It begins with a survey of the fundamental scientific developments that have led to our current understanding of the regenerative mind, elucidating the breakthrough neurobiological studies that paved the way for our present understanding of the brain's plasticity and regenerative capabilities. It then discusses the application of these findings to such issues as depression, dyslexia, schizophrenia, and cognitive therapy, incorporating the latest technologies in neuroimaging, optogenetics, and nanotechnology. The book shows the brain is anything but a static organ, ceasing to grow as human beings become adults. Rather, the brain is dynamic, evolving organically in relation to physical, cultural, historical, and affective stimuli, a plasticity that provides early hope to survivors of trauma and degenerative disorders.
Keywords:
cerebral plasticity,
regenerating brain,
regenerative mind,
depression,
dyslexia,
schizophrenia,
cognitive therapy,
neuroimaging,
optogenetics,
nanotechnology
Bibliographic Information
| Print publication date: 2014 |
Print ISBN-13: 9780231164504 |
| Published to Columbia Scholarship Online: November 2015 |
DOI:10.7312/columbia/9780231164504.001.0001 |
