If anyone wants a great primer about neuroplasticity I recommend reading “The brain that changes itself” by Dr Norman Doidge
In searching for the book I came across this hour-long documentary by the same name that features the author.
Immediate brain plasticity after one hour of brain–computer interface
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Re: Immediate brain plasticity after one hour of brain–computer interface
#22So.. is "plasticity" a good or bad thing?
It is both, it's a double-edged sword. On one hand, your brain can adapt very quickly to new stimuli and adopt good or bad habits such as problem solving or addiction. But, this quick adaptation also means you can 'unlearn' these things very easily too. That's my pop-sci understanding of plasticity, i picked it up when trying to get rid of my bad habits.
So if you could introduce a capability (via plasticity) and we keep practicing it regularly over time does it become long term? If so, that would be a great jump start.
Re: Immediate brain plasticity after one hour of brain–computer interface
#23Earlier quoted context omitted.
It is both, it's a double-edged sword. On one hand, your brain can adapt very quickly to new stimuli and adopt good or bad habits such as problem solving or addiction. But, this quick adaptation also means you can 'unlearn' these things very easily too. That's my pop-sci understanding of plasticity, i picked it up when trying to get rid of my bad habits.
So if you could introduce a capability (via plasticity) and we keep practicing it regularly over time does it become long term? If so, that would be a great jump start.
Like now we can really learn C++ in 21 days?
Re: Immediate brain plasticity after one hour of brain–computer interface
#24Our bodies are such a marvelous machine, with many individual parts and signaling processes, with the ability to rebuild and adapt.
Had that not been the case, we'd be a dead branch of evolution probably long gone by now.
Re: Immediate brain plasticity after one hour of brain–computer interface
#25Earlier quoted context omitted.
It is both, it's a double-edged sword. On one hand, your brain can adapt very quickly to new stimuli and adopt good or bad habits such as problem solving or addiction. But, this quick adaptation also means you can 'unlearn' these things very easily too. That's my pop-sci understanding of plasticity, i picked it up when trying to get rid of my bad habits.
So if you could introduce a capability (via plasticity) and we keep practicing it regularly over time does it become long term? If so, that would be a great jump start.
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Re: Immediate brain plasticity after one hour of brain–computer interface
#26Interesting article, and the results at least “make sense” to me.
I am just a single data point but there are a few things that I think help my neural plasticity:
Mix up the way I do routine physical activities: for example switch the order of putting on shoes, etc.
I spend anywhere from five minutes to twenty minutes in VR every day. Just putting on my Oculus Quest, and trying some random or favorite activity for a few minutes feels stimulating (and is fun).
Meditation: I tend to meditate a fair amount for several days, then not meditate for a while, in a cycle. I feel better when I meditate more but I don’t have a good explanation beyond spirituality.
EDIT: also, I think lots of quality sleep refresh my brain. In the 1980s, Sir Francis Crick theorized that REM sleep had the beneficial effect of removing unnecessary memories from the previous day - sort of a Marie Kondo spark joy cleaning out process.
Re: Immediate brain plasticity after one hour of brain–computer interface
#27So.. is "plasticity" a good or bad thing?
It depends on context and on exactly what is meant by "plasticity" (which isn't very precisely defined in general).
Re: Immediate brain plasticity after one hour of brain–computer interface
#28Earlier quoted context omitted.
It is both, it's a double-edged sword. On one hand, your brain can adapt very quickly to new stimuli and adopt good or bad habits such as problem solving or addiction. But, this quick adaptation also means you can 'unlearn' these things very easily too. That's my pop-sci understanding of plasticity, i picked it up when trying to get rid of my bad habits.
I also wonder if that is the reason so many things online when learning new information are addicting. The brain probably loves the plasticity state and thrives for it. Almost like a dopamine hit. So we go to distractions like reddit and HN or others too often. In the span of a few moments you can learn so much and refine what you know with research if good discussions are going on. It is important to make it useful…
"Plasticity" basically means "learning" at a low level, so it's not really an explanation for why learning can be addicting.
Re: Immediate brain plasticity after one hour of brain–computer interface
#29Re: Immediate brain plasticity after one hour of brain–computer interface
#30Our bodies are such a marvelous machine, with many individual parts and signaling processes, with the ability to rebuild and adapt.
Something that has always blown my mind is that you can have a hemisphere of your brain removed with no major consequences:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemispherectomy
> Studies have found no significant long-term effects on memory, personality, or humor, and minimal changes in cognitive function overall.