Neuroplasticity: The Pattern You Can't Avoid

Once you are made aware of something you begin to see or read it everywhere. Frequency illusion, also known as the Baader–Meinhof phenomenon is a cognitive bias in which, once you’ve noticed something once you are more likely to notice it again, seeming like it is happening more frequently.

Whether it be that or the powers of the universe or higher power Mason has noticed a shocking increase in the amount of different resources and medians referencing Neuroplasticity.

Hopefully Neuroplasticity isn’t new to any of our clients or members as that is the model of healthcare we use here at Peak Chiropractic. But for those that are new to Neuroplasticity I will briefly expand.

Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to change and adapt positively. This happens countless times everyday, in fact it happened just now when you’ve learnt the definition of Neuroplasticity. Our brains are an ever changing structure creating new neurological connections to learn, remember and evolve. This is not to say the brain itself changes although atrophy or wasting of certain parts is possible (yes if you don’t use it you lose it applies to the brain as well) but more so the billions of synapses and connections within the brain change. When these changes occur positively it is called neuroplasticity, when the changes are worse or detrimental then this is called Maladaptation.

Back to Baader–Meinhof phenomenon. Although Neuroplastic changes have been researched and support for years in the world or neuroscience and quite rightly a huge talking point within medical fields this information has been slow to reach the public domain (with the exception of a highly innovative and motivated practice, which are one of the first to adopt the new model of health care). That being said, while absorbing his usual content in the last month or so Mason has come across neuroplasticity and the brain changed science in widespread areas.

Having watched a seminar by the CEO of Headspace, Mason was amazed to hear how guided meditation is using neuroplasticity to educate the Headspace users to the benefits of its practice. And again while reading a book purchased in a charity shop titled “What Doesn't Kill Us” first published in 2017 uses neuroplasticity to explain the physiological and neurological response to cold water immersion.

It’s astonishing how nearly 5 years on since Neuroplasticity was featuring in New York best sellers book it is still unknown to the general public and considered a new model of chiropractic health care widely un-adopted by the outdated and poorly backed Bone Out Of Place Model (BOOP) used by clinicians all over the country.