Review: The Brain That Changes Itself, Normon Doidge - Dystonia Living Magazine

Review: The Brain that Changes Itself by Norman Doidge

Line Bellavance

A friend of mine, originally from the States, who had read the English version of this book, recommended it to me, knowing that I am suffering from Dystonia (Meige’s syndrome) and that I am interested in any writing concerning the brain. Therefore, in 2008, I bought the French version of this book, entitled Les étonnants pouvoirs de transformation du cerveau. I was in a period of amplified symptoms. Since then, my symptoms have been decreasing.

I rapidly identified that Dystonia is due to a neurochemical imbalance and that any adrenalin secretion amplifies its symptoms. As I proceeded in the reading of the book, I was truly aware of these experimented beliefs. For Dystonia Living Magazine, the following text explains what this book brought to me and how it helped me to deal with Dystonia (Blepharospasm and oromandibular spasm).

First of all, I am astonished at the way the author, Norman Doidge, makes available to everyone his explanations on the functioning of the brain. He is an honest and powerful communication expert. Uniting mind and heart in his writing, he has clearly shown that neuroplasticity can cure and/or destroy, hurt the body. Hats off to Norman Doidge for his integrity.

Upon writing this reading summary, I skimmed through the general opinions written concerning this New York Times bestseller. As it is implied in the French subtitle of the book Guérir grâce à la neuroplasticité and in the English subtitle Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science, different authors speak highly of the positive effect of neuroplasticity. However, I feel it is very important to remain aware of the fact that negative neuroplasticity is also and even more present in Dystonia.

This book has increased that awareness in me and I have been on the look-out for it.

As Pascual-Leone (one of the doctors who met Norman Doidge) says, neuroplasticity can be compared to tracks dug into the snow by a skier. Mental tracks created in the brain can induce good or bad habits. Just as it is easier for a skier to slide into the same tracks, one has to be careful not to let those dig deeper when they are harmful.

Line Bellavance This book has also confirmed my belief that it is definitely possible to modify for the best what is disorganized in Dystonia. Since 2008, I have many examples of concrete improvements of my condition, things that were hard work at the beginning of my investment towards eroding Dystonia troubles and that suddenly improved. Among these examples, I want to relate the Blepharospasm that I presently manage with, I would say, a percentage of 95 to 98% and that, in spite of the fact that I always refused to receive Botox (botulinum toxin). I only intake 5 mg of Frisium every day and, as a result, I am experiencing very few ocular spasms.

I would like to add that I marvel at the author’s passion for his domain of interest. One can recognize that passion in the reference notes which constitute about a quarter of the book. It is as if he always has to add up something, as if he could never be satisfied with what he wrote. He always has more and more to say. Almost endlessly. I just love that feeling of infinity that I get from reading both the core of the book and the reference notes. I advise you to read with two bookmarks, one where you are at, in the core of the book and one for the notes.

Equally engaging are his descriptions of the persons he met all along his data collection. With a minimum of words, he portrays people such as Paul-y-Rita, a doctor opposing the established dogmas concerning the unchanging brain or such as Barbara Arrowsmith Young, a woman, so-called “mentally retarded”, who discovered by herself how to cure of a cerebral dysfunction and who founded a school to accompany children and adults with learning problems. Mental exercises are used in that school, according to each person’s disabilities.

Appreciation for this book which is closest to my own is the Chicago Tribune’s critique entitled Lucid and absolutely fascinating. It satisfies in equal measure the mind and heart.

Line Bellavance lives and writes in beautiful French Canada.

Translation to English by Louise Cantin