Your Brain Knows More Than You Think: The New Frontiers of Neuroplasticity

Our brains are more powerful than we ever realized.

Too often, we humans tend to assume that nature is fixed, immutable--and this tendency is particularly strong when we think about matters of the mind and behaviour. People just can't change, we say, so they must somehow be prevented from becoming a burden on society or from hurting themselves and others. Neuroplasticity--the virtually limitless capacity of the brain to remould itself--turns these notions on their heads.

Leading brain researcher Niels Birbaumer brings new hope to those suffering from depression, anxiety, ADHD, addiction, dementia, the effects of a stroke, or even the extremes of locked-in syndrome or psychopathy. Like the fathers and mothers of psychiatry, Birbaumer explores the sometimes-wild frontiers of a new way of thinking about our brains and behavior. Through actual cases from his research and practice, he shows how we can change through training alone, and without risky drugs. Open your mind to change.

About the Author
Shaw, David: - David Shaw works as a journalist for Germany's international broadcaster, Deutsche Welle, as well as translating from several languages, including German, Dutch, Russian, and French. He lives in Berlin.Birbaumer, Niels: - Niels Birbaumer is a psychologist and neurobiologist. He is a leading figure in the development of brain-computer interfaces, a field he has researched for 40 years, with a focus on treating brain disturbances. He has been awarded numerous international honours and prizes, including the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize and the Albert Einstein World Award of Science. Professor Birbaumer is co-director of the Institute of Behavioural Neurobiology at the University of Tübingen in Germany, and senior researcher at the Wyss Centre for Bio- and Neuro-engineering in Switzerland.Zittlau, Jörg: - Jörg Zittlau is a freelance journalist and writes about science, psychology, and philosophy, among other topics. He is also the author of several bestsellers.