The Nuts and Bolts of Better Brains: Harnessing the Power of Neuroplasticity

What if your brain at 77 were as plastic as it was at 7? What if you could learn Mandarin with the ease of a toddler or play Rachmaninoff without breaking a sweat? A growing understanding of neuroplasticity suggests these fantasies could one day become reality. Neuroplasticity may also be the key to solving diseases like Alzheimer’s, depression, and autism. In this program, leading neuroscientists discuss their most recent findings and both the tantalizing possibilities and pitfalls for our future cognitive selves.

This program is part of the BIG IDEAS SERIES, made possible with support from the JOHN TEMPLETON FOUNDATION.

PARTICIPANTS:
Alvaro Pascual-Leone
Nim Tottenham
Carla Shatz

MODERATOR:
Guy McKhann

00:00 - Opening film
03:53 - What is neuroplasticity?
04:21 - Participant introductions
05:21 - Structure of the brain
07:02 - Is the brain fundamentally unwired at the start?
08:30 - Why does the process of human brain development seem inefficient?
10:43 - Balancing stability and plasticity
13:01- Critical periods of brain development
14:54 - Extended human childhood development compared to other animals
17:37 - Stability and. plasticity in the visual system
25:13 - Reopening the visual system
27:28 - Pros and cons of brain plasticity vs. stability
29:55 - Plasticity in the autistic brain
31:25 - What is Trans-cranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
33:10 - Phases of emotional development
37:40 - Schizophrenia and plasticity
40:24 - Recovery from brain injury
47:21 - Modern rehabilitation techniques
50:12 - Holy grail of Neuroscience
53:37 - Enhancing memory performance as we age
57:19 - Regulating emotions

MORE INFO ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND PARTICIPANTS: https://www.worldsciencefestival.com/...

PROGRAM CREDITS:
Produced by Nils Kongshaug
Associate Produced by Christine Driscoll
Opening film written / produced by Vin Liota
Music provided by APM
Additional images and footage provided by: Getty Images, Shutterstock, Videoblocks

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