{"id":353378,"date":"2010-02-23T11:54:38","date_gmt":"2010-02-23T16:54:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.sharpbrains.com\/?p=2875"},"modified":"2010-02-23T11:54:38","modified_gmt":"2010-02-23T16:54:38","slug":"a-decade-after-the-decade-of-the-brain-%e2%80%93-educational-and-clinical-implications-of-neuroplasticity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/353378","title":{"rendered":"A Decade after The Decade of the Brain \u2013 Educational and Clinical Implications of Neuroplasticity"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Editor’s Note<\/strong>: In 1990, Congress\"CerebrumFeb2010_feat\" designated the 1990s the \u201cDecade of the Brain.\u201d President George H. W. Bush proclaimed, \u201cA new era of discovery is dawning in brain research.\u201d During the ensuing decade, scientists greatly advanced our understanding of the brain. The editors of Cerebrum<\/a> asked the directors of seven brain-related institutes at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to identify the biggest advances, greatest disappointments, and missed opportunities of brain research in the past decade\u2014the decade after the \u201cDecade of the Brain.\u201d They also asked them what looks most promising for the coming decade, the 2010s. Experts focused on research that might change how doctors diagnose and treat human brain disorders.)<\/p>\n

Neuroscience is at a historic turning point. Today, a full decade after the \u201cDecade of the Brain,\u201d a continuous stream of advances is shattering long-held notions about how the human brain works and what happens when it doesn\u2019t. These advances are also reshaping the landscapes of other fields, from psychology to economics, education and the law.<\/p>\n

Until the Decade of the Brain, scientists believed that, once development was over, the adult brain underwent very few changes. This perception contributed to polarizing perspectives on whether genetics or environment determines a person\u2019s temperament and personality, aptitudes, and vulnerability to mental disorders. But during the past two decades, neuroscientists have steadily built the case that the human brain, even when fully mature, is far more plastic\u2014changing and malleable\u2014than we originally thought.1 It turns out that the brain (at all ages) is highly responsive to environmental stimuli and that connections between neurons are dynamic and can rapidly change within minutes of stimulation.<\/p>\n

Neuroplasticity is modulated in part by <\/span>genetic factors and in part by dynamic, epigenetic changes that influence the expression of genes without changing the DNA sequence. Epigenetic processes are of particular clinical interest because their external triggers (such as early parental care, diet, drug abuse and stress) can affect a person\u2019s vulnerability to many diseases, including psychiatric disorders. In addition, in contrast to genetic sequence differences, epigenetic alterations are potentially reversible, and thus amenable to public health policy interventions.<\/p>\n

It also has become increasingly clear that the human brain is particularly sensitive to social stimuli, which likely has accelerated the rate of human brain evolution. Humans have evolved a complex neuronal circuitry in large areas in the brain to process complex social information (such as predicting others\u2019 reactions and emotions) and to respond appropriately. New research has revealed that social stimuli (such as parenting style and early-life stress) can epigenetically modify the expression of genes that influence brain morphology and function including the sensitivity of an individual to stressful stimuli.2 In the future, this knowledge will enable us to tailor personalized prevention interventions that are based on information on how genetics and epigenetics affect brain function and behavior. For example, a recent study showed that a prevention intervention based on improving parenting style reduced the risk for substance use disorders only in adolescents with a particular variant of a gene that recycles the chemical serotonin back into the neurons, which is a variant that results in greater sensitivity to social adversity.3<\/p>\n

In the coming decade, insights about what underlies neuroplasticity, combined with technological advances that allow us to \u201csee\u201d with greater precision the human brain in action, are bound to revolutionize the way we view learning and the methods we use to educate young people. New research will also show us how to help people overcome or compensate for many of the deficits associated with drug abuse, addiction and other mental disorders.4<\/p>\n

For example, scientists are using imaging technologies in neurofeedback programs that train people to voluntarily recalibrate their neural activity in specific areas of the brain, allowing them to gain unprecedented control over, for example, pain perception5 or emotional processing.6 During drug addiction treatment, this approach could greatly reduce the risk of relapse by enabling a patient to control the powerful cravings triggered by a host of cues (e.g., people, things, places) that have become tightly linked, in the brain of the user, to the drug experience.<\/p>\n

Other promising advances stem from ongoing research and development of direct communication pathways between a brain and external computer devices, the so called brain-computer interfaces (BCI). In a recent study, one version of BCI appeared to help paralyzed stroke victims regain some movement control.7 In the next decade, forms of BCI might help people with a variety of neuropsychiatric conditions that have proved resistant to traditional treatments. For example, early evidence suggests that BCI training could benefit patients with epilepsy or attention-deficit\/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) that is unresponsive to drugs.8<\/p>\n

As we build on these rapid advances in neuroscience research, we must keep a watchful eye on their vast social and political implications. For example, neurologists have started to uncover the molecular components and neural circuitry that underlie the learning process.9 We also are learning how to use transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a noninvasive method to modulate the activity within a neural circuit, more effectively.10 Should we use this knowledge to better educate young people and teach new skills to seniors, or should we use these tools only to treat people with neuropsychiatric disorders? As we begin to understand how parenting styles affect the development and function of the brain, how far should we go to protect children from the long-term and deleterious effects of bad parenting?<\/p>\n

Recent progress in brain research and associated fields has been impressive, and we are sure to witness further acceleration in the pace of neuroscientific discovery in the next couple of decades. Indeed, we are entering a new era in which our technologies are beginning to affect our lives in profound ways. We are bound to recast our relationship with our brains and, in the process, to redraw the boundaries of human evolution.<\/p>\n

(Note: references are available below)<\/p>\n

\"Headshot_Volkow_thmb\"Nora D. Volkow<\/strong>, M.D., became director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in May 2003. Her work has been instrumental in demonstrating that drug addiction is a disease of the human brain. As a research psychiatrist and scientist, Dr. Volkow pioneered the use of brain imaging to investigate the toxic effects of drugs and their addictive properties. She also has made important contributions to the neurobiology of obesity, ADHD, and the behavioral changes that occur with aging. Article is republished with permission from the Dana Foundation.<\/p>\n

‘A Decade after The Decade of the Brain’ series, at Cerebrum<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Thursday, Feb. 18: Nora D. Volkow, M.D., National Institute on Drug Abuse<\/p>\n

Friday, Feb. 19: Thomas R. Insel, M.D., National Institute of Mental Health<\/a><\/p>\n

Monday, Feb. 22: Story Landis, Ph.D., National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke<\/a><\/p>\n

Tuesday, Feb. 23: Kenneth R. Warren, Ph.D., National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism <\/a><\/p>\n

Wednesday, Feb. 24: Paul A. Sieving, M.D., Ph.D., National Eye Institute<\/p>\n

Thursday, Feb. 25: James F. Battey Jr., M.D., Ph.D., National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders<\/p>\n

Friday, Feb. 26: Richard J. Hodes, M.D., National Institute on Aging<\/p>\n

References<\/strong><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0 A. Holtmaat and K. Svoboda, \u201cExperience-Dependent Structural Synaptic Plasticity in the Mammalian Brain,\u201d Nature Reviews Neuroscience 10, no. 9 (2009): 647\u2013658; M. Butz, F. Worgotter, and A. van Ooyen, \u201cActivity-Dependent Structural Plasticity,\u201d Brain Research Reviews 60, no. 2 (2009): 287\u2013305.<\/p>\n

2. I. C. Weaver, N. Cervoni, F. A. Champagne, A. C. D\u2019Alessio, S. Sharma, J. R. Seckl, S. Dymov, M. Szyf, and M. J. Meaney, \u201cEpigenetic Programming by Maternal Behavior,\u201d Nature Neuroscience 7, no. 8 (2004): 847\u2013854.<\/p>\n

3. G. H. Brody, S. R. Beach, R. A. Philibert, Y. F. Chen, M. K. Lei, V. M. Murry, and A. C. Brown, \u201cParenting Moderates a Genetic Vulnerability Factor in Longitudinal Increases in Youths\u2019 Substance Use,\u201d Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 77, no. 1 (2009): 1\u201311.<\/p>\n

4. N. D. Volkow, L. Chang, G. J. Wang, J. S. Fowler, D. Franceschi, M. Sedler, S. J. Gatley, E. Miller, R. Hitzemann, Y. S. Ding, and J. Logan, \u201cLoss of Dopamine Transporters in Methamphetamine Abusers Recovers with Protracted Abstinence,\u201d Journal of Neuroscience 21, no. 23 (2001): 9414\u20139418.<\/p>\n

5. R. C. deCharms, F. Maeda, G. H. Glover, D. Ludlow, J. M. Pauly, D. Soneji, J. D. Gabrieli, and S. C. Mackey, \u201cControl over Brain Activation and Pain Learned by Using Real-time Functional MRI,\u201d Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 102, no. 51 (2005): 18626\u201318631; S. J. Johnston, S. G. Boehm, D. Healy, R. Goebel, and D. E. Linden, \u201cNeurofeedback: A Promising Tool for the Self-regulation of Emotion Networks,\u201d Neuroimage 49, no. 1 (2009): 1066\u20131072.<\/p>\n

6. S. Johnston, S. Boehm, D. Healy, R. Goebel, and D. Linden, \u201cNeurofeedback: A promising tool for the self-regulation of emotion networks,\u201d Neuroimage 49 (2009):1066-1072.<\/p>\n

7. E. Buch, C. Weber, L. G. Cohen, C. Braun, M. A. Dimyan, T. Ard, J. Mellinger, A. Caria, S. Soekadar, A. Fourkas, and N. Birbaumer, \u201cThink to Move: a Neuromagnetic Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) System for Chronic Stroke,\u201d Stroke 39, no. 3 (2008): 910\u2013917.<\/p>\n

8. N. Birbaumer, A. Ramos Murguialday, C. Weber, and P. Montoya, \u201cNeurofeedback and Brain-Computer Interface Clinical Applications,\u201d International Review of Neurobiology 86 (2009): 107\u2013117.<\/p>\n

9. C. A. Miller, S. L. Campbell, and J. D. Sweatt, \u201cDNA Methylation and Histone Acetylation Work in Concert to Regulate Memory Formation and Synaptic Plasticity,\u201d Neurobiology of Learning and Memory 89, no. 4 (2008): 599\u2013603.<\/p>\n

10. C. A. Dockery, R. Hueckel-Weng, N. Birbaumer, and C. Plewnia, \u201cEnhancement of Planning Ability by Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation,\u201d Journal of Neuroscience 29, no. 22 (2009): 7271\u20137277.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Editor’s Note: In 1990, Congress designated the 1990s the \u201cDecade of the Brain.\u201d President George H. W. Bush proclaimed, \u201cA new era of discovery is dawning in brain research.\u201d During the ensuing decade, scientists greatly advanced our understanding of the brain. The editors of Cerebrum asked the directors of seven brain-related institutes at the National […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5882,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-353378","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/353378","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5882"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=353378"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/353378\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=353378"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=353378"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=353378"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}