Feldenkrais ahead of his time: CBC Radio on Rebuilding the Brain.

Feldenkrais knew in the 1940’s what scientists are only beginning to integrate now. CBC Radio Canada also did an interview with Dr. Norman Doidge on the topic of neuroplasticity. In it, Dr. Doidge defines neuroplasticity as the property of the brain which allows it to change the structure and the function depending on what you do with your brain. The kinds of things that will change the structure of your brain include concentrating on a specific task at hand; when you are preceiving or sensing the world, your brain is vulberable and capable of change; and, extremely fascinating, your very ideas and the things you imagine can change the structure of the brain. This can turn on or off genes that will change the structure of your brain!

Dr. Doidge stresses that paying attention is crucial for plastic change; paying very close attention. He also mentions that it is better to choose to learn things that you are interested in, something you enjoy, something fun and a challenge because: you turn on the same neuro-chemical system, the dopamine system that both gives you the thrill of completeing the goal, and consolidates that network that led you to the goal if you want to improve the functioning of your brain, and keep youthful.

As I mentioned in my former post, Moshe Feldenkrais spoke of these very things when he explained what he saw as happening when engaging in the lessons he devised. He understood, experienced and took advantage of this capacity we all have: the capacity to rebuild our brain. The following excerpts were taken from a book written by Moshe Feldenkrais which was first published in 1949 Body and Mature Behavior: “We [define] learning as the aquistion of new responses…In [human] the brain grows and forms while he adjusts himself to life…Learning becomes the greatest and, indeed, the unique feature distinguishing man from the rest of the living universe…[Learning] is also the foundation of imagination…The outstanding quality of the human conscious innervations seems to be a unique capacity to form new nervous paths, associations and regroupings of interconnections.”

You can listen to this very good interview at CBC Radio by clicking the following link: Karin Wells’ Conversation with Dr. Norman Doidge