The Brain That Changes Itself

The Brain That Changes Itself

What is neuroplasticity? Is it possible to change your own brain? Norman Doidge's inspiring guide to the new neuroscience explains all this and more.

An astonishing new science called neuroplasticity challenges the centuries-old belief that the human brain is unchangeable, proving that it is indeed possible to alter one's own brain. Psychoanalyst Norman Doidge, M.D., traveled across the country to meet both the brilliant scientists supporting neuroplasticity and the individuals whose lives it has transformed—people whose mental limitations, brain injuries, or traumas were once considered immutable. We see a woman born with only half a brain who rewired herself to function as a whole, blind individuals learning to see, healed learning disabilities, increased IQs, rejuvenated aging brains, stroke patients learning to speak, children with cerebral palsy learning to move more gracefully, as well as successfully treated depression and anxiety disorders. Through these remarkable stories that explore the mysteries of the body, emotions, love, sexuality, culture, and education, Dr. Doidge has written an extremely moving and inspiring book that will forever change our view of our brains, human nature, and human potential.

About the Author

Norman Doidge, M.D., is a psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, and New York Times bestselling author. He is a member of the research faculty at the Columbia University Center for Psychoanalytic Training and Research in New York and on the faculty of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. He and his work have been featured and cited in various publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, and Psychology Today.