Neuroplasticity 101

I was recently asked to write a brief article on neuroplasticity for people recovering from a stroke. I am sharing that with all of you, in the case that it helps you directly, or someone that you are helping. Here goes:

 

So, what is neuroplasticity? Can that help me in recovery from stroke? If so, how? If you have had a stroke, you may have been thinking about or asked these questions. Let’s get you some answers.

You have permanently lost some neurons (brain cells) because of the stroke.

Let’s hope that the bad news stops there. Since about 1995, the science on the good news, neuroplasticity, has been developing rapidly. Neuroplasticity is literally the capacity of the brain to (like plastic) re-mold, re-shape, re-invent. Neuroplasticity is the act of making new connections in the brain. New connections are being made when we learn for the first time, or re-learn (after a stroke). All learning requires neuroplasticity. Facts, events, names, concepts, movements – anything that you will need later, that you would like or need the brain to store requires new connections, requires neuroplasticity.

Now, neuroplasticity does not just “happen” . by itself. It is a separate process in the recovery after stroke from what we do call spontaneous recovery. Neuroplasticity, again the formation of new connections, happens in response to a demand placed on the brain. There may be an internal dialogue about demands that takes place at the end of each rehabilitation day. This dialogue might go something like, “We need that leg to be trustworthy!”, “We need that right hand to regain independence”, or “We need to be able to react faster to prevent injury.”.

The demands that queue or stimulate neuroplasticity often come from experiences in therapy, where we get the best opportunity to see errors and wins. With a balance of errors, “What could I do better” and wins, “I am getting better!”, a person’s brain takes the stimulus, and supplies neuroplasticity (learning by forming new connections).

Yes, that’s right. Errors can be a stimulus (demand) showing your brain what it needs more of in the form of sensation, movement, accuracy, or balance. The demand is met with a supply in the form of new connections that consolidate or take shape while we sleep during the night of a stimulating day.  Most of this physical change in the brain happens in the part of sleep we call Rapid Eye Movement or REM sleep. Note that almost all learning takes place in this fashion. Our events of the day, good or good or bad, trauma or celebration, are stored later that night.

For optimal neuroplasticity, a person needs the following: sleep, challenging rehabilitation, the experience of enough wins to keep them motivated (seeing gains) and enough errors to see what could be done better.

For more on brain health, longevity, and wellness, follow me on Instagram @mikestuderdpt or find my new book, “The Brain That Chooses Itself”.  Feel free to contact me directly by email:

Mike@MikeStuder.com