Customer Reviews

The New Brain: How the Modern Age Is Rewiring Your Mind

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Although Restak's book The New Brain has nothing dramatically new with respect to research, it definitely puts what has emerged from recent research into better perspective for the amateur. Essentially it brings together under specific headings much of what has been learned by various mind/brain researchers through fMRI and PET scan studies, and does it in a very readable and understandable form. A neurologist and neuropsychiatrist at George Washington University Medical Center in Washington D. C., Restak has published 18 or more books on the topic of mind science, putting it into public formats like books and popular television programs.

Among the more interesting topics, I found that on the plasticity of the brain the most significant. I started out my career in nursing on a neurology ward, and at the time it was almost a given that damage to the central nervous system was irreparable and deficits that arose from it irreversible. The goal for most of the patients with strokes from occlusion or cerebral bleed was rehabilitation of the functional side of the body and learning to deal with whatever communication problems remained. It was often repeated that whatever deficits had not resolved after the subsidence of cerebral edema would be permanent. The new research indicates that this is not only not true, but that focusing on strengthening the "good" side actually prevented the "bad" side from healing properly. The marvelous sense of hope that the new data provide is incredible. As those familiar with the efforts of Christopher Reeves to overcome the deficits with which he was left by his accident will know, exercising the weaker portions of the body to the extent they are able with the help of others and of mechanical and electrical stimulation seems to show considerable hope for rewiring the damaged nervous system.

The information on attention deficit and technologically driven changes in the wiring of the brain and function of the mind were also interesting. To the extent that it predicts the direction of the human nervous system and behavior, I'm not certain that technology is such a good thing after all, but then I'm not going to be around when life has changed to the degree that such predictions indicate will be the case. I found it intriguing that the biofeedback we receive from our own technology has as much an effect on us as we on it. Certainly, familiar as I am with the notion of early human evolution and tool use/production, I should have found this natural outgrowth unsurprising. Somehow, though, such things "should" be something of the "past" rather than the "now." After all, we feel we are the "finished" product of human evolution. Just how untrue this is, is very obvious when you read this chapter (3) of Restak's book.

Being a part of the health care world, I found the chapter on Cosmetic Psychopharmacology eye opening. Of course when one considers the emotional pain and crippling character of depression one sees the pharmacological interventions as mostly to be desired. With Restak's discussion of the extreme of designer personalities and of simply not feeling or being anything, one can see that use of these chemicals to alter brain chemistry is perhaps not the best plan over all. The problem is, where to we draw the line, who draws it, and for whom do we set these limits and why? These are all ethical questions that will probably be slugged out case by case until over time solutions are found and guidelines created.

This is a very thought provoking book about how our brains are wired and how they work.

The book is very readable and does a good job of explaining how our brains work and how research is showing that our brains are much more elastic and dynamic than previously believed.

I believe that any parent or teacher must read the chapter 'More Images Than Ever'. Restak looks at how various parts of the brain work together to control our behavior and the effect of television and movie images on this wiring. He's careful to point out that this is current theory, and not absolute fact.

When I'd finished this chapter I resolved to change the kind of images that I allow myself to be exposed to, and to be much more careful about what my children see.

Overall this is a positive book that looks to a future where we are much more aware of how our brains function and how to use them and expand our capabilities in benefical ways.

Our brains are changing, says Dr. Richard Restak in his latest book, an engaging tour of the frontiers of modern brain research. According to him, we are entering the age of the New Brain where new technologies like genetic mapping and imaging technology will reveal to us for the first time the mysterious secrets hidden within our skulls. And he is superbly qualified to lead us on this adventure into neuroscience.

Dr. Restak is a neurologist and neuropsychiatrist and an expert in brain function and the ongoing research of brain physiology and development. He is a clinical professor of neurology at George Washington Medical Center in the nation's capital and author of more than 15 books on the brain and brain function and appears often in the national media as a popular commentator on scientific research.

What, in general, is the book about? Well, it is about genetic mapping, imaging technology, psychopharmacology, the fact that our brains are working differently from how they did a century ago, in what manner and why the demands of our modern world are bringing about changes in the brain itself, the dramatic new treatments that can repair damage in the brain, the way new drugs can influence how the brain operates and what behaviors can and will result, and the probability that technology, rather than biology, will play the major role in the evolution of the human brain.

This is a compact book (only 212 pages of text) for books dealing with such complex topics, but that may well be to its advantage. It is, after all, written for the ordinary person and not the expert and therein lies its value. Members of the general public need to know what is going on in the area of modern brain research and what impact some of the new technologies in neuroscience may have on their lives. Furthermore, there are potential misuses of and abuses in some of these technologies, there are moral or ethical issues present, and all of us need to have enough knowledge so we can make informed decisions about how we want to permit this new research to affect our lives.

Rather than attempt to provide an overview of all or most of the major topics in Restak's book, let me focus briefly on three revelations that Restak presents from the current research which are sure to be controversial and I found particularly intriguing.

The first one is that it may be possible that brain imaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can indicate when you are telling the truth and when you are lying, a tool that would certainly be valuable to a prosecutor and jury if evidence from such a technique was ever accepted by courts of law. Another technique called Brain Fingerprinting, which detects changes in the brain's electrical activity, has already been used in criminal investigations and Restak cites one example where the investigation led to a life sentence in prison. Interesting stuff, that. And the efficacy of such tools will surely be widely debated on the popular media talk-shows.

Another controversial area that Restak explores is that of the influence of violence in the media on brain physiology and behavior. There are, he notes, more than 1,000 studies which support the conclusion "that when children watch violent media they become more aggressive." Without getting into the matter of TV or movie censorship, Restak presents some rather powerful evidence and says "...we know that watching violence -- or even just imagining it -- reduces the functional activity of those parts of our brain that are normally enlisted to inhibit violent impulses." He concludes that "From a practical point of view, it makes a lot of sense...to avoid vivid images of events that, according to what we're learning from new brain research, can lead to psychological harm." I suspect we'll hear a lot more about this research in the future and it will be widely debated.

My personal favorite, however, is his brief discussion regarding the two methods that have traditionally been used to teach children to read. The controversy over which teaching method is best -- phonics or whole-word (aka "look-say") -- has raged for decades. I spent over seventeen years in the public schools and was a strong advocate of phonics, finding myself decidedly in the minority all that time. Now, according to Restak, brain research may have decided the issue. The question he asks is: "Which of the two methods corresponds most closely to what happens in the brain during reading?" The answer, Restak says, is that "recent fMRI studies have largely come down in favor of phonics." I just knew that some day my position on the matter would be vindicated by science. And so it seems.

The only criticism I have of the book regards its subtitle, "How the Modern Age is Rewiring Your Mind." As a philosopher in the tradition of Classical Realism, I make a distinction in kind between the human brain and the human mind. The human brain may be "rewiring" itself, but the human mind cannot do so. It is understandable, however, why Dr. Restak fails to make this distinction; unfortunately, most empirical scientists today also fail to make it. It is interesting, though, that while he uses the term "mind" in his subtitle, no where else in the book do I find him using that term.

This book is a good read. And, I think, an important one considering the nature of the topic and its significance to all our lives. It is generally nontechnical and easily understood, but be aware that it is really an overview of a deeply complex subject. I highly recommend it to everyone.

Review of The New Brain, by Richard Restak, M.D. (best-selling author of "Mozart's Brain" and "The Fighter Pilot")...Why are attention spans shorter, these days? Take a trip to the library, and look at magazine articles from a decade ago. Why are they twice as long as today's articles? Why is it "people don't read?" Or listen? Or, as we are increasingly hearing, think? The answers to these and other important questions regarding a fundamental shift in the way people process information and respond to it are in The New Brain.

The trends toward shorter attention spans, instant gratification, and "dumbing down" have been the subjects of one guru after another. Yet, the discussions have been largely opinion and open to debate. Until now.

Restak settles the questions and removes all doubts by using modern medical imaging technology to literal look into the working, living brain itself. From the studies he cites and the explanations he provides, we can clearly see that the brain "of modern man" is rewiring itself to adapt to television and other rapid-fire, image-intense media. Restak pushes the subject further, to show that this adaptation is not without its costs.

For example, brains rewired to adapt to these unbalanced inputs lose their ability to work in the abstract. This ability is important for invention, creation, conversation, imagination, and even good love-making-things that make us human.

While the book is fascinating in its own right, the information is worth far more than its value for party chatter. Restak has handed his readers the keys to their own destinies. By understanding the effects of what we watch, see, read, and listen to, we can determine how much of this rewiring goes on. Empowered by the information in The New Brain, the reader can adapt to the new inputs without becoming lost in them.

Other books will surely emerge on this topic. Make this one the first in your collection.

In my undergrad days it was still taught that the human brain did not develop past a certain age, and that damage to portions of the brain were irreversible... Today we know this is false. "The New Brain" begins in the first chapter with a discussion about Brain Plasticity - how the brain changes (and grows in ability) as we use it, and as functions become 'hard-wired.'

For me, the first four chapters were the most interesting because they deal directly with the implications of Brain Plasticity... (Chap 2, Genius and Superior Performance; Chap 3, Attention Deficit; and chap 4, The effect of images on the brain)

The remaining chapters go in different directions on the general theme of "what's new" with the brain via brain research techniques, drugs, new treatments, etc.

Here is my humble critique: Restak is good at introducing new ideas, but where he falls just a little short is in engaging the reader with real critical discussion. Along those lines, he gives examples and statistics without really explaining what the experiment measured, or what the numbers really mean. For example in p203, he gives a diagram of measured P3 latency, but he doesn't tell you what this is actually measuring...He does, however tell you what it should mean for the discussion. Although the reader has no reason to distrust his interpretation, it would be nice if he presented just a few more concrete details. There are sections in which one may feel he is editorial-izing much, and teaching us very little about the new brain. Still...it's a good read, hence 3 stars... think of it as a cool conversation over drinks - not concrete enough to expand your knowledge, but compelling enough to perhaps change some behavior.

If you like the book - you might also like "The Midnight Disease" by Alice Flaherty, another physician, also writing on the brain, but without the shortcomings (or perceived shortcomings) I'm pointing out here... Whereas Restak's main focus is how the brain can change through use - Flaherty's book focuses on the Temporal Lobe, and the compulsion to write...

I thought this was a great book especially to a layperson who may not completely understand all the technical terms. I thought the way that he laid out the book made it very easy to read. A lot of time books written for science are way too technical to enjoy. I like how he explained the general area "Cerebral Georgraphy" then shared his interviews with other professionals from different institutions from around the world. Good structure. Read it especially if you want to learn more about the brain and developments you can expect to see in the coming years.

The New Brain is a fascinating look into the inner working of the human brain. Readers will probably remember Dr. Richard Restak from his 1980's P.B.S. series: "The Brain" and "The Mind". His newest installment looks at what we are learning about the physiology of the brain through new techniques such as functional M.R.I. and P.E.T (Positron Emission Tomography).
All teachers will find the newest evidence about learning and memory not only profound but also useful in the classroom. Dr. Restak concludes, " If you want to learn a new skill or make use of new knowledge, you must change your brain". We now understand that "by engaging in repetitive exercises we can set up relevant circuits (in the brain) and sharpen their expression". In short, modern research has shown that genius or superior performance in nearly every field of human endeavor is attainable by nearly everyone! Dr. Restak explains that no single genetic factor is responsible for superior performance but instead an understanding of how to train the brain to achieve higher levels of control over every part of performance.
Have you ever wondered why A.D.D. (Attention Deficit Disorder) is so common in modern society? Are all the violent images children are seeing in the media having an impact on the development of our brains? What are the new imaging techniques telling us about the drugs doctors use to treat depression and other brain disorders and will this give us better ways to treat mental illness? These are some of the many topics Dr. Restak discusses with an amazing clarity and does not require a degree in neuroanatomy. The "old brain" from just a couple decades ago was static and made of anatomical structures we all learned in health or science classes. The "new brain" is a profound shift in our understanding. We have begun to contemplate the physiology of our brains and the tremendous impact of the modern world.

Not only does our brain influence our behavior, our behavior and the choices we make influence the very structure of our brains! This is the basic proposition of Restak's work, and his documentation of that proposition is convincing.

Although the brain is a complicated and technical subject, Restak writes for the layman and explains how our choices (e.g., viewing violent movies, choosing to practice an instrument with diligence, or even enjoying humor and laughter) affects our brains -- physically.

Modern research has proven that the brain has much more plasticity (flexibility and ability to change) throughout life (not just during youth) than previously believed.

Although Restak does not give enough credit to inherited abilities and tendencies (in my opinion, he needs to address studies among identical twins raised apart), it is still interesting to note how practice and discipline actually change the brain's structure.

My favorite portion addresses how images (TV, movies, photos, etc.) destabilize our brains, and how that watching a fictional event is processed by our brain as an actual event. The result is that portrayals of violence make us stressed, fearful, and more prone to be violent ourselves, almost as though we had participated in the acutal events portrayed.

He addresses music, ethical issues involving medication, and leaves us with predictions about new medical treatments involving melding the brain with modern technology.

All in all, this was an interesting and informative read. Great for anyone who deals with people or is concerned about social issues.

This book surprised me with its clarity, accessibility, and objectivity. Restak lays out the latest brain research, focusing on what he calls the brain's 'elasticity', which is a fancy way of saying the brain adapts. Restak seemed surprised that the brain remains fairly elastic throughout someone's lifetime, instead of remaining fixed after a certain age (I think he mentioned 30). He, also, seems surprised that geniuses are made and not born. That while a person may have a knack for something, what will distinguish this person is how much effort he dedicates to his craft.

I think both of these observations are non-sequiters, since many, if not most, people know many old, or older people that adapt very well to new things and pick up new information as easily as anyone else who puts in the effort to learn it. Also, I think it's fairly obvious that people considered to be geniuses in a particular field are simply those that have worked hardest to master all aspects of it, especially the gritty, tediuos details, not just the cool parts.

Besides these not so surprising results, much of the book provides insight into some of the most fascinating aspects of the brain. For example, the fact that parts of the brain used for two separate tasks, but located next to each other, will have some sort of bleed over. Like associating colors with numbers. I associate red with the number 3 and a light green with the number 4, and so on. This is due to the proximity of the parts of the brain that process numbers and colors.

Another cool thing was the naming of letters. He gave as an example an alphabet with only two letters, one shaped like a circle, the other shaped like a five pointed star. Which one do you think has the name 'ooh' and which was is named (I think) 'ecka'. Either way, the letter you would name 'ooh' is the the same letter that over 99% of the world, across cultures and languages, would name 'ooh'. This is because of the roundness of your mouth when you say 'ooh' and the hardness of the 'ck' in 'ecka' that would be associated with sharp edges.

He, also, gives an interesting, and, I thought, surprisingly objective discussion of using pharmacology in a 'cosmetic' way, i.e., using drugs to diminish perfectly normal feelings that you don't want to feel. He uses the example of a person taking a Prozac like drug so he can handle a funeral, instead of feeling real grief.

The most surprising subject in the book talks about restoring the senses. The most striking story in the book is about a man born blind, but, through technology has his sight restored. Surprisingly, this does not make him whole. Because he got his sight so late in life, he never developed an emotional attachment to his sight. So instead of improving his life, he fell into depression because he thought the world was so 'drab'. I never thought of anything like this. It makes me think that if a deaf person had his hearing restored, he wouldn't enjoy music because he never developed an emotional attachment to sound.

I can't imagine either scenerio. I enjoy music and sound, and colors and sight so much that I never thought restoring those senses might cause an emotional dissonance.

I recommend reading this book. There's very little jargon and almost no wasted paper. Every sentence provides more information, instead of just filling up a book.

Neurosurgeon Dr. Richard Restak discusses the merging of biology with modern technology, enabling deeper understanding of the physiology of the brain. Items like MRIs and psychopharmacological drugs have provided a radical change in how individuals use their brain when compared to the late nineteenth century and earlier eras though repetition and skill remains a constant. He also describes the negative impacts of social "medicalization" and the impact of too much electronic media stimulation.

Dr. Restak's energy for the positive effects of recent discoveries is quite good and very interesting as it written for wide conceptual comprehension. When THE NEW BRAIN: HOW THE MODERN AGE IS REWIRING YOUR MIND turns towards what Dr. Restak believes is the downside, he uses more anecdotal information than data. Still he makes a solid easy to read case that the twenty-first century new brain is dramatically different than that of our recent ancestors.

Harriet Klausner