Sharon Begley goes into great detail about the many research findings having to do with neuroplasticity in the brain. She is a strong advocate for how possibilities for change that few of us have imagined can be the result of consistent, disciplined mind training, mostly involving contemplative processes.

1. The Enchanted Loom
Teasing sturdy threads from
neuroscience masterworks

2. Teasing 10
threads from
Sharon Begley’s…

3. Thread 1:
Neuroplasticity … raises the possibility
that we can train ourselves to be kinder,
more compassionate,
less defensive,
less self-
centered, less
aggressive,
less war-like.
(pg. 25)

4. Thread 2:
“Use dependent cortical reorganization”
began a revolution in our understanding
of the brain
and its
essential
capacity for
change – its
neuro-
plasticity.
(pg. 48)

5. Thread 3:
New neurons are born in the brain well
into the eighth decade. They weave them-
selves into existing brain circuitry and
perhaps
form the
basis of
new
circuitry.
(pg. 65 )

6. Thread 4:
Mental training can mute afflictive
emotions like jealousy, anger, greed,
envy and hatred -
emotions not
conducive to
our collective
well-being.
(pg. 222 )

7. Thread 5:
Physical activity alone, unless it is forced,
can generate new brain cells.
(pg. 66-68 )

8. Thread 6:
The better connected a brain is, the better
it is, period, enabling the mind to connect
new facts with old,
easily retrieve
memories, even
see links among
disparate facts,
the very found-
ation for
creativity.
(pg. 69 )

9. Thread 7:
The main job of the orbitofrontal cortex
seems to be to notice when something is
amiss. It is the
brain’s error
detector, its
neurological
spell-checker.
(pg. 138 )

10. Thread 8:
Attention pumps up neuronal activity.
Attention is real in the sense that it takes
a physical form
capable of affect-
ing the physical
activity of the
brain. Paying
attention makes
a huge difference.
(pg. 158)

11. Thread 9:
Attention works
like a gate,
to open and
let more
information in.
You can touch
attention. It has
an anatomy, a
physiology, and
a chemistry.
(pg. 160)

12. Thread 10:
The single best predictor of the growth
of a baby is to ask the mother,
“Did you
want this
child?”
(pg. 178)

13. Thread 11:
People who feel there is someone they
can turn to in time of need, are not
only better able to
perceive when
someone is in
distress, but are
also more will-
ing to respond
to suffering.
(pg. 185)

14. Image Credits:
Title Page: http://www.rappler.com/science-nature/23193-personality-traits-brain-scans
Slide 3 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnvanbeers/16366508855
Slide 12 - http://ideas.time.com/tag/unwanted-children/
Slide 2 - http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB116915058061980596
Slide 6 - http://www.deviantart.com/art/Jealousy-Disease-348507807
Slide 5 - http://bit.ly/1PMBRF8
Slide 11 - http://www.rededgeimages.com/view/6182921549/arched-gate-in-stone-wall
Slide 10 - https://psychologyisgrowth.wordpress.com/tag/self-esteem/
Slide 13 - http://www.sheknows.com/home-and-gardening/articles/1005195/
Slide 9 - http://mediatechparenting.net/2014/04/19/spell-check-your-spell-checker/
Slide 8 - http://bit.ly/1Hn0m7i
Slide 7 - http://letsrestycle.com/the-extreme-sportsvogue-japan-march-2013/
Slide 4 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iwz4iAOA0Jw
Slide 15 - http://www.rappler.com/science-nature/23193-personality-traits-brain-scans

15. Mark Brady, PhD
TheEnchantedLoom@gmail.com
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