The harsh truth. Brain’s ‘reprogramming’ ability questioned

Researchers from the University of Cambridge and Johns Hopkins University have questioned the widespread idea that the human brain can rewire itself in response to trauma such as blindness, amputation or stroke. In their publication, they argue that belief in the ability to reuse areas of the brain to perform new functions is erroneous. They argue that what’s actually happening is the brain using pre-existing “dormant” abilities, ScienceDaily writes.

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The team considers the common idea that in blind people, for example, the visual cortex originally dedicated to processing vision is repurposed to process sound, which helps with echolocation. Similarly, they consider the belief that stroke survivors’ brains adapt to regaining motor control. Jon Krakauer, who directs the Center for Motor Learning and Brain Regeneration at Johns Hopkins University, emphasizes that although these phenomena are real, the traditional explanation for the reorganization of brain regions is incorrect.

Experts analyzed ten important studies that purported to demonstrate the brain’s reorganization abilities. Their conclusion is that the brain uses latent innate abilities rather than developing new functions in unrelated areas. For example, a 2022 study by Professor Tamar Makin found that the areas of the brain associated with a particular finger are already processing signals from neighboring fingers; This suggests that amputation merely strengthens pre-existing signals rather than creating new pathways.

Makin, from the Medical Research Council’s Cognitive and Brain Sciences Unit at the University of Cambridge, explains that adapting the brain to injury does not involve separating new areas to carry out completely different tasks. Instead, existing brain regions improve or modify their previous functions through repetition and learning.

Researchers also looked at cases such as congenitally deaf cats whose auditory cortex was rewired to process visual input, but returned to processing sound after receiving a cochlear implant. This indicates that the brain is not rebuilding itself. Overall, the analysis found no evidence that the visual cortex of blind people or the intact cortex of stroke survivors developed new functional abilities.

Makin and Krakauer emphasize the importance of understanding the true nature and limits of brain plasticity to establish realistic expectations for patients and guide clinical rehabilitation strategies. They emphasize that brain adaptation is a slow, gradual process through sustained effort and practice, rather than a miraculous redistribution of brain resources. This understanding recognizes the hard work behind recovery stories and helps develop more effective rehabilitation approaches.

Previously Focus He wrote that scientists have learned to produce new neurons in the brain using stem cells. Researchers were able to increase the number of neurons in the brains of adult and aged mice, discovering the importance of cellular metabolism in neurogenesis.

Moreover Focus He wrote that scientists discovered mathematical neurons in our brain. Nine volunteers participated in the scientists’ research. Thanks to the material studied, it was possible to conclude that there are neurons in the human brain that are activated during certain mathematical operations.

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