It was once believed that the brain was too sophisticated and too complex, and that with evolution, it lost the ability to restore functions, repair itself or to preserve itself. Norman Doidge, a Canadian-born psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, and also the author of “The Brain that Challenges itself”, and “The Brain’s Way of Healing”, came up with the discovery that the brain can change its structure and function in response to mental experience. This phenomenon is known as neuroplasticity, and he has, through his book, The Brain’s Way of Healing (2015), shows how neuroplasticity really heals and works.
It is primarily aimed at the patients who suffer from ailments like where people could have lost the ability to walk for years but have yet recovered through this method, or children with learning disorders, Parkinson’s disease etc. who can be treated through simple approaches. There are many cases where children suffering from autism, and other such illness of the like and the advent of neuroplasticity offers hope and recovery to these people and children.
Doidge served as the Head of the Psychotherapy centre and the Assessment clinic at the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry. At present, he is the faculty at the University of Toronto in the Department Of Psychiatry and a research faculty at Columbia University, Centre for Psychoanalytic Training and Research, New York.
Doidge also has written several other genres other than scientific writing like poetry, academic and other popular pieces. He was also an Editor at The Canadian Review of Books.
Summary of Two of His Popular Books
The Brain that changes itself: This book focuses on the brain that can change it, and talks about how Doidge has overthrown the century old belief that the brain is fixed and unchangeable. The brain, unlike how we perceive, is not hardwired or programmed. Neuroplasticity acts as a ray of hope in challenging this old belief and extends our understanding of the healthy brain and human nature. The book brings out many case studies which deal with amazing and startling progress made by brain, whose conditions were dismissed as lost cases. Doidge also observes this changing brain to understand the phenomenon of sex, love, culture, education etc. This one is a truly inspiring book that will change the way you look at human possibility and gives you a deeper understanding of the workings of brain. More than everything it generates hope.
The brain’s way of healing: Using this understanding of how our brains work, many scientists and practitioners have started using neuroplastic therapies to treat people who were earlier dismissed as hopeless. Neuroplastic healing is one of the ground breaking discoveries of modern science. The book brings in amazing real life stories and case studies of numerous patients to bring to light the effectiveness of neuroplasticity in healing. Apart from expanding the understanding the brain and how it works, the book also has the potential to bring in enough hope and belief in healing. The author has carefully explains how the brain capacities are largely dynamic and how its very complexity offers a very unique way of healing.
Where can you Find Them?
These two books can be ordered online. Since they are packed with much information and are aimed at expanding our understanding, it is a book worth buying. To understand the brain’s functioning correctly and as to how it works, the book is suggested for children as well. Through the course of their education, much of what is discussed in the book will be easily understood and effectively incorporated into their learning process, paving way for igniting research interest. The book can also be found in book stores that sell academic books.
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