Neuroplasticity

Send us Fan MailNeuroplasticity — the brain's ability to rewire itself after injury  is the scientific foundation of aphasia recovery after stroke. But most survivors never hear the word explained in plain language. Angie breaks down what neuroplasticity actually feels like from the inside, using real-life analogies from her own stroke recovery. Dr. Seles translates the neuroscience: how repetition, novel activity, and structured therapy drive the brain changes that support language recovery. For stroke survivors rebuilding communication skills and for SLPs designing evidence-based treatment plans  this episode makes the science usable.Angie shares the analogy of what aphasia feels like and how doing repetitive or new activities helped her stroke recovery. Dr. Seles shares the importance of Use It or Lose It and how your daily routine can strengthen neural connections in the aging brain.Finally, because neuroplasticity is activity driven, we do exercises that may leave Brain  Friends with new connections....or notShow Notes: Brain Games6 Brain Exercises for NEUROPLASTICITY | Step 2 of Brain Educationhttps://aphasiaadvocates.com/ for Brain Friends Merchhttps://aphasia.org/event/ask-the-expert-february-2026/https://www.cognitiverecoverylab.com/seleshttps://aphasia.org/stories/announcing-the-davetrina-seles-gadson-health-equity-grant-program/Our beloved colleague, Dr. Davetrina Seles Gadson, passed away January 11, 2025. Dr. Gadson was an extraordinary speech-language pathologist and neuroscience researcher who devoted her energy to studying health disparities in aphasia recovery. She was a fierce advocate for improving services for individuals with aphasia, particularly Black Americans. Her research transformed our understanding of these health disparities and shed light on how we can address them. We were privileged to have Dr. Gadson as a cherished member of our lab community for four years, first as a postdoctoral fellow and then as an Instructor of Rehabilitation Medicine. She was still a close collaborator and friend to many of us at the time of her passing. Dr. Gadson was an incredible person—compassionate, inspiring, and full of life. Her dedication to advancing equity in aphasia recovery and her profound impact on our community will never be forgotten. ...