Neuroplasticity an emerging field

Neuroplasticity is an emerging field in neuroscience, which states that the mind has the power to change the very structure of the brain. Science shows that our positive thoughts can literally re-wire the established physical pathways. Stress, is how our minds manifest our fears of the past, the future, or many other uncontrollable and unchangeable things. Fear and stress lie at the root of physical disease, emotional trauma, and breakdowns in relationships. And there is no greater gain in quality of life, health, and well-being than the psychological shift from fear to peace.

  Neuroplasticity is growing in popularity as a theory that, at least in part, explains improvements in functional outcomes with physical therapy post stroke. Rehabilitation techniques that have evidence to suggest cortical reorganization as the mechanism of change include  Constraint-induced movement therapy ,  functional electrical stimulation , treadmill training with body weight support, and  virtual reality therapy . Robot assisted therapy is an emerging technique, which is also hypothesized to work by way of neuroplasticity, though there is currently insufficient evidence to determine the exact mechanisms of change when using this method.

Neurodevelopment and the brain’s neuroplasticity is life-long with both it and the nervous system in a constant state of adaptation to the interplay between a person’s developmental history, their current situation and future aspirations. Movement, supported by proper nutrition, organises mental processing, influences the body's biochemistry and helps mould the actual structure of the brain.

Scientists in the field of Neuroscience are providing more and more evidence that our brains are malleable, regenerative, and responsive to environmental conditioning. This now proven neuroplasticity is mostly a good thing, but it can have its drawbacks, too. In our technology-saturated lives, we have trained our brains to stay in a state of high alert and readiness, always on, attuned to the bells and whistles of our iPhones and Blackberries and incoming email. We live in a constant state of partial attention and hyper-focus, vigilant, ready to respond instantaneously to incoming information and messaging.

Problems, such as stroke damage and obsessive-compulsive disorder, were once considered incurable. Yet the power of neuroplasticity generated significant change in these cases and in a relatively short period of time.

 Neuroplasticity is the ability of neurons at the synapses to create new connections, thereby forming new networks and thus rewiring the brain. It is also considered the basis of restoring physical abilities following a stroke or injury. Research has found psychotherapy just as effective as medication for inducing changes in brain blood flow in the frontal cortex, ACC, and hippo-campus.

The greatest positivity building tool comes from people learning about their brains’ ability to change itself through its interaction with the environment. The ultimate benefit of mistake negativity and dopamine reward are manifested by the altering of the brain’s neural networks. It is within these networks of connecting neurons that information is stored, transported, and organized. Neuroplasticity is the ability of these networks to transform based on the acquisition of new information, recognition of associations between new and prior knowledge, and the reorganization, extension, correction, and strengthening that takes place.