Parenting Pointers with Dr. Claudia - Episode 324

Topic - Brain Damage Healing. You’ve heard of those people who can suddenly play the piano, speak another language or have artistic skills they didn’t have before. These savant skills can be the result of damage, yes, damage to the front left side of the brain. An experiment using magnetic pulses to zap this part of the brain caused the volunteers to suddenly be able to estimate the amount of jelly beans in a jar! In other studies, volunteers developed extraordinary artistic skills. Remarkably, the brain, even when damaged, can demonstrate strengths. This seemingly frivolous research suggests the brain is capable of healing by accessing different parts. Depending on the age of the person, the brain can recover and enhance its abilities. The brain is most “plastic” or flexible during the first 6 months of life, but the brain doesn’t stop growing until age 16 and doesn’t stop maturing until about age 35 or so. Brain injury doesn’t have to be a deal breaker.