A February 14, 2011 article in the Associated Press, Doctors Work to Help Giffords’ Brain Rewire Itself, inspired us to share some of the content with you. These concepts are the foundation on which CIMT is based. A surprising factor is that the brain’s wiring is not fixed. For example, if the damaged part of the brain is small enough, new connections might bring in neighboring neurons to stand in for the dead ones. Or existing connections can be strengthened, allowing neurons to work together more efficiently than they had before. Brain rewiring after injury is like taking back roads when an interstate highway is damaged. Brain rewiring – scientists call it plasticity – is driven by what a patient is learning and experiencing. That’s why patients should get into rehabilitation as soon as possible.
|
||
