Jum'ah Journal--Brain Plasticity

Plasticity, in medicine, means ability to redevelope structure and function. Most tissues in the body have ability to redevelope such as Liver or Kidney. This is not "scar formation" which is just replacement with fibrous tisse.
Not long ago we were taught that brain cells have no plasticity. Once you lose the cell that's the end of it. About 40 years ago some hopes started with experiments suggesting return of function and based on new cells. By now it is well-established that new brain cells can regenerate under circumstances of stimulation and mant experimantal and clinical examples have accumulated. The last decade of 20th century, some of you will remember, was called "the decade of the Brain" and all the advances in the brain research were documented regarding this.
A large number of conditions will benefit with such programs as Merzenich's brain firness programs etc. and future holds much more exciting things for us.
This is my personal interest and I have tried to re-orientate my brain without much success on my own (Did not work hard, must admit) to hear and interpret the electronic sounds through my Cochlear Implant system. I am going to embark upon a professional program now to see how much I imrove. (Just being a neurologist does not empower me enough to educate myself--well at my age perhaps-- again a feeling that can change as now we know otherwise)
(The Brain that changes itself--- by Norman Doidge MD Viking 2007)
The note of the great teacher of medicine (Osler) may haveto be changed!!!!!

"Common sense nerve fibers are seldom medullated before forty--they are never seen with a microscope before twenty" (Dr. William Osler, 1849-1910)