Did anyone else hear the programme on Radio 4 tonight about some of the latest research in neuroscience? It was looking particularly at what our new technologies that help us to 'see' the brain - e.g. MRI and PET scans - tell us about mental health, e.g. schizophrenia and depression.
I can't pretend I retained or even understood it all, but some revelations stood out.
For example, when you look at the brains of people who hear voices, you can see activity in the area that is normally active when we are speaking; AND in the area that is normally active when we are listening (to external sounds). So here is physical evidence that the brain really has got speech going on inside it, which is being 'heard' as though outside. A real validation for someone who might be dismissed as 'making it up'
They also talked about the discovery that there are similarities in the brain activity of people experiencing depression; but there are also noticeable differences. So not all treatments will suit all depression - and it should become easier to find appropriate individual treatment (instead of just bunging everyone on prozac!)
At a training event on Trauma which also featured brain scans, we learnt there is evidence that it is trauma itself that can cause some of these brain 'abnormalities' - if I understood right, it's about sort of short-circuiting some of the pathways within the brain, and this is why we experience triggers and flashbacks.
The best bit was there is also evidence (before & after scans) that 'talking therapies' and other healing treatments can re-wire the brain and create new, healthy pathways.
So it seems the brain isn't just dying from the age of 21 or thereabouts (as my son keeps gleefully reminding me)but is am amazing, beautiful, complex, self-healing, transforming organism that is evolving.
If I have made any errors or missed out other stuff which you know about, please do enlighten me further. This is just so fascinating and also so hopeful. With the right support, my damaged parts can change/ heal.
Fascinating
Thanks for that Jane,
I'm not a scientist, but that really is very cool. I'm sure the 'evidence' that talking therapies are effective from a scientific point of view can only be a good thing and hope that the long term implications of this work can be better resourcing and understanding by our beloved NHS. Also good to hear more support and affirmation that mental health issues aren't a 'poor relation' to physical health, but are scientifically just as valid as say, a broken arm.
"The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love and be loved in return" Moulin Rouge