Neuroplasticity

What it is

The brain is highly plastic and has the capacity to develop new nerve cells (neurogenesis) and create, strengthen, weaken and break neural circuits, thereby changing the physical structure and functional organization of the brain. Canadian psychiatrist Norman Doidge has in fact stated that neuroplasticity is "one of the most extraordinary discoveries of the twentieth century." The term plasticity to describe changes in neuronal processes was originated by Polish neuroscientist Jerzy Konorski. Until the last 10 years, the sub-cortical (limbic system and reptilian brain) was considered immutable in structure after childhood and other areas — such as the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex — were plastic after childhood, accounting for changes in explicit memory. Then UCSF’s Michael Merzenich and Vanderbilt University’s Jon Kaas as well as other researchers demonstrated that the brain is highly plastic throughout the lifespan. The brain change is use-dependent, so that the potential for a neuron to fire and wire to another changes with repeated experience. Neural circuits are the basis for all learning, including thoughts, feelings and behaviors, so the plasticity of the brain opens new opportunities in health care and education.

How it is applied in Emotional Brain Training

The method is based on rewiring the emotional brain, particularly the emotional implicit learning, in which is stored our processes for self-regulation and the unconscious expectations and unhealed trauma from the past. By rewiring the neuronal stress circuits that are maladaptive and strengthening the neuronal circuits that are adaptive people can create increased levels of persistent of well-being and resiliency. The 5-Point System provides the tools to self-regulate consciously and in a use-dependent fashion, repeated practice of that become part of implicit memory and used spontaneously. Because trauma and unreasonable expectations wired into implicit memory in the past are aroused by current stressors, use of The 5-Point System begins to rewire those maladaptive neuronal stress circuits that contribute to the sensitization of the brain to stress.