| The brain performs countless miracles every second | | | | experiencing distressful symptoms, a significant |
| of each and every day. I’d like to discuss one | | | | number of patients reported measurable |
| such miracle that brings so much hope for those | | | | improvement and relief. Wanting to understand why, |
| suffering from mental and emotional disorders. | | | | Schwartz and his team examined PET scans |
| It’s an amazing compensatory process of the | | | | administered before and after a course of CBT and |
| brain known as neuroplasticity. | | | | found activity in the core of the brain’s OCD |
| Neuroplasticity is all about the brain reorganizing its | | | | circuit, the orbital frontal cortex, decreased |
| neuron-to-neuron connections in response to new | | | | significantly. Furthermore, the observed decrease was |
| circumstances and environments. Though it performs | | | | about the same as what would be noted after meds |
| its magic primarily during infant, toddler, and | | | | therapy. |
| pre-pubescent brain development; the adult brain can | | | | Schwartz needed no further evidence that choice, |
| be amazingly “plastic.” Neuroplasticity also | | | | will, and neuroplasticity can alter the brain’s |
| comes into play within the context of disease and | | | | functioning, holding the potential to bring a whole lot |
| injury, explaining, let’s say, how a stroke victim | | | | of relief to a whole lot of people. Incidentally, I |
| regains a particular function even though the area of | | | | wanted to share this neat description of mindfulness |
| the brain responsible for that function has been badly | | | | before we move on. It’s from Buddhist nun and |
| damaged. Neuroplasticity occurs, shall we say, | | | | Tibetan Buddhism teacher and author, Pema Chodron. |
| automatically as a process of development. But it can | | | | It fits perfectly here. "The root (of mindfulness |
| also occur by choice – willfully - giving us | | | | practice) is experiencing the itch as well as the urge |
| conscious management of the dynamic. And therein | | | | to scratch,and then not acting it out.” |
| lies the hope. | | | | Neuroplasticity is all about neurons having the ability |
| A very, very wise man, Dr. Jeffrey M. Schwartz, | | | | to establish new connections throughout our brains, |
| M.D., and his colleagues at UCLA, discovered that | | | | facilitating all sorts of new functioning. So it’s a |
| cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can positively | | | | matter of the potential for the brain to be rewired. |
| impact the brain machinations involved in | | | | But it’s also about how specific neural circuits got |
| obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in a manner | | | | wired in the first place, resulting in current patterns of |
| similar to psychotropic medications. Briefly, CBT, a | | | | thought, emotion, and behavior. |
| psychotherapeutic intervention, is grounded in the | | | | It’s pretty clear that neurons consistently |
| pivotal role of thought as it applies to our feelings | | | | interacting together form long-lasting functional |
| and behavior. If we’re experiencing distress, the | | | | relationships, just as neurons that no longer dance |
| mission of CBT is to identify the faulty thinking | | | | together lose their connections. And these dynamics |
| (cognitive distortions) causing the problems and | | | | are foundational in our hope for incredibly positive and |
| teaching us how to swap these misguided thoughts | | | | powerful change throughout the lifespan, as our |
| with material that’s based in reason. Then | | | | brains physically change - adapt - based upon the |
| it’s a matter of taking this enlightened thinking to | | | | dynamics of neuroplasticity. If we acknowledge this |
| the world and enjoying our more desirable responses | | | | capability and learn how to bring it to reality, all sorts |
| and behaviors. | | | | of mental and emotional healing will be right at our |
| Well, the story goes that Dr. Schwartz revisited an | | | | fingertips. |
| interest in the Buddhist concept of mindfulness, a | | | | If you want to learn more about neuroplasticity, |
| clear-minded, in-the-present-moment, | | | | check-out the work of Jeffrey M.Schwartz, M.D., |
| self-observational technique that emphasizes viewing | | | | Michael Merzenich, Ph.D., and V.S. Ramachandran, M.D., |
| self without criticism or judgment. Schwartz | | | | Ph.D. Amazing minds, and incredibly fascinating and |
| discovered that when OCD patients practiced | | | | useful information. |
| mindfulness meditation (as a CBT technique) upon | | | | |