Mindfulness and positive psychology encompass the notion that we are in control of our physiological wellbeing through our mindset. Positive psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on optimal wellness
and flourishing. Along with neuroscience, positive psychology birthed the term neuroplasticity, where we, as individuals, can rewire our thought processes and influence our physiology at a cellular level.
Neuroplasticity essentially refers to the ability we have to rewire our brains to think and feel differently and to increase overall wellbeing. Psychologists used to think the brain and personality were fixed, but we now realise that is incorrect. We can be our own neurosurgeons (neuroplasticians) and change our thinking with our thoughts.
Modern day stress can wreak havoc on our wellbeing, but being able to take control and influence our own thoughts has a positive impact on our bodies. The term epigenetics is a phenomenon whereby we can influence the growth of disorder through negative thinking, and conversely, influence health and wellbeing through positive thinking processes.
Neuroplasticity gives us the ability to recover from a stroke, learning disabilities, brain injuries and mental illnesses, such as depression. Harnessing creativity is another important factor in positive psychology and the promotion of wellbeing. Creativity is cultivated by taking time out from the chaos and being in a positive environment. The positive psychology movement making time for daily or regular doses of creativity, which plays a fundamental role in changing our mindset.
Using affirmations (such as positive self-talk) is also important to safeguard against any negativity that can hinder creativity. Creativity allows you to get into the flow; this is a state of being that psychologists describe as being completely focused, devoid of knowledge of time and distraction. Neuroplasticity is also called brain plasticity. We have the ability to rewire our brains. We do this with our thoughts and with what we say. If we did not have this ability, we would not be able to develop from infancy or recover from a brain injury. The brain is, therefore, not fixed or in a static state as once was thought.
Case Studies of Neuroplasticity
The concept was first forged by American Neuroanatomist Dr. Marian Diamond who found that an enriched environment caused anatomical changes in the cerebral cortex of rats’ brains. The brains of those in a thriving environment were heavier than the brains of rats in the unstimulating environment (Diamond, Krech, & Rosenzweig, 1964). Cheryl Schiltz also found her ability to heal through neuroplasticity when a course of antibiotics destroyed her balance. Using the techniques given to her by Paul Bach-y-Rita, she retrained her brain to find balance (Maclean’s, 2007).
The brain is special in that it processes sensory and motor signals in parallel. If any damage is done to the brain because it has many neural pathways that can replicate another’s function, this can be rectified by rerouting the signals down another neural pathway.
As the body can recover from damage to the brain due to neuroplasticity by forging new neural connections, it was also found that losing certain functions within the body enhanced other functions. For instance, losing the sense of touch increased the sense of smell. Losing one function may rewire others. Those that lose their sight early in life may have an increased ability to hear. Recovery also depends on the level of sensory and motor stimulation that a person receives post-injury. The more stimulation, the greater the chance of recovery. For those that have had a stroke, this includes training in virtual environments, music therapy, and using mentally physical movements. Younger brains have a better ability to recover.
While the brain’s structure is genetically predetermined, continued development is done via development plasticity. This process changes neurons and synaptic connections. While new neurons are formed quickly in younger brains, this slows down with age. As the brain develops, individual neurons mature by sending out axons and dendrites that transmit and receive information from one neuron to the next. Neurons also mature by increasing the number of synaptic contact with specific connections. A newborn child’s neuron in the cerebral cortex has roughly 2500 synapses, but this increases to approximately 15000 by ages two to three. This is done through a process called synaptogenesis — where a child explores and learns new skills. However, by adulthood, a process called synaptic pruning takes place and the number of synapses halves.
It is certainly debatable as to whether the brain retains its ability to increase synaptogenesis as it ages, however, the ability for a person who has had a stroke to reverse the damage through aggressive treatment suggests that it is a process that still takes place.
Even as we age, we still retain the ability to learn new skills, activities, and languages. This means the brain has a mechanism that is available so that knowledge is retained and accessible for future recall (another example of neuroplasticity).
Consultant Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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EPIGENETICS AND TRAUMA