The Mind and the Brain: Neuroplasticity and the Power of Mental Force Paperback – October 14, 2003

The reason that I purchased the Mind and Brain book was because it was similar to a paper That I have written, which I will list below.SANDY'S MIND BODY SILENTCONNECTION CONVERSATION LIST05/13/13 08:13 PMINTRODUCTIONThe following is a TOP PRIORITY LIST That I call "SANDY'S-MIND-BODY-SILENT CONNECTION-CONVERSATION-LIST" that I have silently followed with myself at bedtime.every night for years. It appears to be mostly working.The pain , Itching and Tennis sections are probably the more easily sensed parts of the conversation list than the cancer or heart problems. Some items like growing hair on the top of my head are probably impossible but I say it to myself anyway.Trying to converse with another person's Trillion Computer Systems [Gerri [(Wife) & Jackie (Daughter)] is much more improbable than conversing with my Trillion Computer Systems. I do it any way.I believe that you can converse with the Trillion Computer Systems in your body.This is not praying to God. There are Scientists now working to develop an electronic digital computer system to replace the part of a defective brain that cannot remember things.This is a scientific experiment. The Trillion Computer Systems in your body has MANY ACTIVITIES TO PERFORM EVERY MICROSECOND.Since I am the Commander of all the Trillion Computer Systems in my body, I am going to indicate to the Trillion Computer Systems in my body MY TOP PRIORITIES.This a PARTNERSHIP between MY INTERNAL TRILLION-COMPUTER-SYTEMS and MY OUTER-BODY'S-ACTIVITIES[exercise procedures , food intake, vitamin intake and dieting procedures].The Trillion Computer Systems activities inside of my Body will not be as effective if I do not perform my Outside Activities properly and efficiently.The Trillion Computer Systems will help guide my Outside Activities properly and efficiently.You can follow "SANDY'S-MIND-BODY CONNECTION-CONVERSATION-LIST every evening by substituting your name for mine.You can also change my top priorities list for your top priority list.You can eliminate my Tennis procedure if you are not a Tennis player.Why should you try SANDY'S-MIND-BODY CONNECTION-CONVERSATION-LIST"?Because its free and you have nothing to loose and everything to gain.I believe the the Trillion Computer Systems in my body guided me to have a Right Knee Replacement, which I fought not to do for a long time. The results of the Right Knee-Replacement on my Tennis playing ability was fantastic.My Tennis Playing Doctor who replaced my Right Knee gave me a thumbs up as I played him for about 10 minutes. I will have a Left Knee Replacement June 12,2013.I started to take the sleeping aid drug Ambien[5mg] last night. I have not slept that well in decades.I believe that the Trillion Computer Systems in my body guided me to ask the Doctor for a sleeping aid. I have always fought the idea of a sleeping aid.SANDY'S-MIND-BODY CONNECTION-CONVERSATION LIST "This is Sandy Hanberg, Commander of Trillion Computer Systems in the body of Sandy Hanberg.I want all Trillion Computer Systems in the body of Sandy Hanberg to figure out a way to eliminate or minimize the following Aging problems in the body of Sandy Hanberg:A. CANCER PROBLEM SOURCESMelanomaPancreaticDiverticulitisThroatLungEsophagusLymphomaBrainColonProstateKidneyLiverLukemiaBoneHead and NeckThyroidBladderTesticularB. PAIN PROBLEM SOURCESSeverely Arthritic Bone on Bone KneesPain above the Right Knee ReplacementankleToeShoulderElbowWristIntersection of the Left Wrist & Left PalmStomachHeadMigraine HeadacheEyeEarHipC. GENERAL PROBLEM SOURCESArthritisVisionHearingParkinsonBowleggedRashLeg itchingBlood in the UrineUrine leakingDizzinessGall BladderLiverVertigoSweet CravingFast EatingElbowFacial WrinkleShoulderStomachBackHerniated DiskArm MuscleProstateBladderEsophagusSwallowingSeizureAneurismStrokeAlzheimerDementiaLou Gehrig's DiseaseDiabetesLungKidneyPneumoniaCold Disease virusFluAtrial FibrillationPost Nasal DripThroat ClearingSneezingShort Term MemoryLong Term MemoryGrowing Hair on the Top of my Head[impossible?]Hair Falling out from the Top of My HeadScabs and Sores on the Top of My HeadConstipationDepressionDiarrheaEpilepsyHepatitisHypertensionIncontenanceInsomniaLongevityLupusMultiple SclerosisShinglesTuberculosisUlcersUrinary Tract InfectionRheumatic DiseaseDental HealthSebaceous cystsDrinking too much WineDrinking too much BeerDrinking too much CoffeePoor Eating HabitsWeight GainLack of Willpower to ExerciseSexual CapabilityBlood Clots in the LungsD. HEARING PROBLEM SOURCESLow or High Background Noise EnvironmentsPeople's voices at a dining table in a Noisy environmentTelevision soundsRadio SoundsMovie SoundsLow or High Frequency components of SoundEar WaxE.. TENNIS PROBLEMSRemembering Tennis ScoresRemembering when I serve[after an Opponents Serve]Making Good Line CallsNot to make a Line Call on a Blurred ShotPoor Forehand Top Spin Drive [Sweep the Racket from Low-to-High over the outer Jacket of the Ball ,while making good eye contact with the Ball & Racket, then following through over my left shoulder so that the outside of my arm covers my left eye-brow and my left shoulder rotates slightly ccw. Sandy does not look where the ball is going.]Poor Backhand Top Spin Drive [Sweep the Racket from Low-to-High over my left shoulder so that the outside of my arm covers my left eye-brow and my left shoulder rotates slightly ccw,then sweep the Racket from Low-to-High over the outer Jacket of the Ball ,while making good eye contact with the Ball & Racket, then following through. Sandy does not look where the ball is going.].Poor Lefthand Top Spin Drive [Sweep the Racket from Low-to-High over the outer Jacket of the Ball ,while making good eye contact with the Ball & Racket, then following through over my right shoulder so that the inside of my arm covers my right eye-brow and my right shoulder rotates slightly cw. Sandy does not look where the ball is going.]Poorly hitting the Ball over the Net by at least 3 feetPoor Lobbing [Sweep the Racket from Low-to-High over the outer Jacket of the Ball ,while making good eye contact with the Ball & Racket, then following through over my left shoulder so that the outside of my arm covers my left eye-brow and my left shoulder rotates slightly ccw. Sandy does not look where the ball is going.]Poor Overhead Drives [ Rapidly throw the Racket at the bottom of the Ball, while making good eye contact with Ball and Racket, then snapping my wrist, saying down and following through. Sandy does not look where the ball is going.]Poor First Serves [Lift the Ball very high over my head,then rapidly throwing the Racket at the bottom of the Ball, while making good eye contact with Ball and Racket, then snapping my wrist, saying down and following through. Sandy does not look where the ball is going.]Poor Second Serves [Lift the Ball very high over my head,then rapidly throwing the Racket at the bottom of the Ball, while making good eye contact with Ball and Racket, then snapping my wrist, saying down and following through. Sandy does not look where the ball is going.]Poor Return from an Opponent Drive on the Right [Retrieve the ball and hit a good Lob over the Opponent on the left side of the court, then immediately run to the center of the court and return the Opponents return with my backhand or my left hand].Poor Return from an Opponent Drive on the Left [Retrieve the ball and hit a good Lob over the Opponent on the right side of the court, then immediately run to the center of the court and return the Opponents return with my forehand].Poor Attack of the net when the Opponent is in a week position [Attack the Net with my Forehand, when the Opponent is in a weak position].Poor Return of an Opponents Drive that appears to be going Out but goes in insteadPoor Return of an Opponents Drive that appears to be going into the Net but goes over the Net insteadI Poorly Take Charge of the net, Both sides of the Center Line and the Base Line if my partner cannot run very fastMy Partner Poorly Takes Charge of the net, Both sides of the Center Line and the Base Line if he runs faster than I doI Poorly return an Opponents Drive from No-mans LandI Poorly return an Opponents Drive from my Base Line[Opponent hitting Balls near my feet].I Poorly return an Opponents Deep Lob on the Fly in No-mans Land [Sandy does not try to hit the Deep Lob after it bounces near the base line, too hard to get].I Poorly return an Opponents Short Lob on the Fly in No-mans LandI Poorly return an Opponents Short Lob on the Fly in No-mans Land that is too close to my Body[I must step back one step and wait for the Short Lob to bounce before driving the ball]I poorly run up to the Net when the Opponent runs up to the net, so I can prevent an Opponent Drop ShotLeft Knee Pains[Requires Massaging of the Knee]------------------------------------------------------------------------------II> This is Sandy Hanberg, Commander of aTrillion Computer Systems in the body of Sandy Hanberg.I want all Trillion Computer Systems in the body of Gerri Hanberg to figure out a way to eliminate or minimize the following Aging problems in the body of Gerri Hanberg:A. GENERAL PROBLEM SOURCESSeverely Arthritic Bone on Bone KneesSeverely Arthritic HipsAnkleLegThighBudoxBackBreathingBlood Clots in the LungsAppetiteStomach AchesAnxietyGetting up from a Chair,Toilet Seat, or a Car Seat with easeWalking easilyWalking up & Down the Stairs with easeAlzheimer or Dementia PossibilitiesShort Term Memory-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------III. This is Sandy Hanberg, Commander of a Trillion Computer Systems in the body of Sandy Hanberg.I want all Trillion Computer Systems in the body of Jackie Nelson to figure out a way to eliminate or minimize the following Aging problems in the body of Jackie Nelson:A. GENERAL PROBLEM SOURCESManic DepressionShort Term Memory\Neck pain problemsDieting

The Mind & The Brain: Neuroplasticity and the Power of Mental Force was a very tantalizing read. This review is to highlight points of the book so that you will pick it up and take a look yourself. Overall, I enjoyed this book. I learned a great deal about neuroplasticity and its implications in treating certain disorders such as OCD and depression. The book is split into 12 sections: an introduction, 10 chapters, and an epilogue. All are very interesting and successfully carry on into the next section, creating a continuous, enlightening learning experience. Within the chapters, Schwartz also adds intriguing anecdotes about other researchers and scientists that helped him to produce his 4 Step regimen, a program that greatly assisted his OCD patients in their quest for control of their chronic urges.The Introduction of the book starts with a brief explanation as to why Schwartz decided that Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) would be his model for neuroplasticity and the reason as to why he thought prior methods for treating OCD. He describes how the current treatments for OCD involved Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) that could include very unusual methods and were mildly successful in the patients that tried them. In addition to the initial story, Schwartz gives stories about other treatments for OCD and how dangerous they could be for the patients. He goes on to discuss Bare Attention, mindful awareness, and mindfulness which together are ways of perceiving what is going on around and to you without being directly influenced by it. He leads into the book by introducing his 4 Steps: Relabeling, Reattributing, Refocusing, and Revaluing that each help the patient overcome their OCD. They are discussed further in the coming chapters.The first part of the book, Ch.1 -The Matter of Mind, compares and contrasts the differing of opinions about how the mind and brain are related. It begins the debate on the reality of the ability of the mind to have an effect on the brain. An intriguing alien short story by author Terry Bisson ponders "the utter absurdity of the situation" when an alien scout reports on a trip from our planet. Next, the human conscious and its uniqueness are dissected. To conclude the chapter, the author concludes that there must be a "mental force" that connects the mind and the brain.Ch.2 - Brain Lock goes back to OCD and discusses how it locks the brain into consumingly compulsive thoughts which take over the patient's attention, hence the title of this chapter and another of his books. The chapter also discusses how OCD takes over the mind ("OCD circuit") and how the therapy that the author proposes will change the mind of the patient. The creation of the counteracting "Therapy circuit" and the 4 Steps are also elaborated on in this chapter.The downfall of the notion that the adult brain cannot change is the purpose of Ch.3 - Birth of a Brain. It had been documented previously that that there are many changes in the brain from the fetal to adolescent ages, but not the adult human brain. The vast complexity of the brain, with a large number of neurons and synapses, is also discussed. The way that the perfect steps to create this large complex of neurons and synapses that created an intricate network that controls the body occur took a great amount of time and will, whether divine or one of chance.The infamous tale of Edward Taub and the 17 monkeys with which he was charged for animal cruelty discussed in Ch.4 - The Silver Spring Monkeys is possibly the most interesting story of the book. It is possibly because this was my first time hearing about the story of Taub and his research on "deafferentation in monkeys" and his run-in with PETA that I was enamored by this chapter. Learning that he was exonerated of his crimes and that his findings led to some very compelling research dealing with plasticity helped in enjoying this chapter. Taub and his research are mentioned throughout the rest of the book as well.Ch.5 - The Mapmakers reaches into the brain to focus on the sensory and motor cortices to discuss how they relate to neuroplasticity. The chapter discusses that the more a part of the body is used, then the more that is represented in the two cortices or "maps" as they are described. It elaborates on how the sensory and motor "mapping" takes hours of time and how much the researchers put towards determining that the brain maps changed when the subjects were put through experimental trials.The next chapter Ch.6 - Survival of the Busiest compels the reader to take note that only neurons and synapses will survive the changes of the brain. This "cortical remapping" of the brain can have positive or negative results, as indicated in the book. This chapter also gives a formal definition of what neuroplasticity is and is not. Attention is brought forth as the key to plasticity at the end of the chapter.Ch.7 - Network Remodeling discusses how the brain attempts to adjust to functional setbacks by changing itself. This remodeling can be self-initiated, shown by research revealed in the chapter. The chapter focuses on OCD and specific language impairments like dyslexia and how the attempts to fix them and their roots results in a program called Fast ForWord being put on the market. This chapter also discusses a program similar to the author's that involves using comparable steps to assist subjects with Tourette's syndrome.The most powerful lessons of the book come from Ch.8 - The Quantum Brain. The chapter gives a tutorial in the fundamental differences between classical physics and the much more recent quantum physics. The chapter then goes into how lessons learned in this book are much more readily reinforced by the theories of quantum physics than classical physics. The ability for researchers to completely confirm the concreteness of quantum physics, even though they cannot fully discover the reasoning behind it, leads to a compelling argument as to why there is a "mental force" that connects the mind to the brain. Be prepared to expand your mind with this chapter.Ch.9 - Free Will, and Free Won't describes how humans have some sort of control over the daily choices that we make. The "mental force" that is described in the chapter is "the physical expression of will." This same "mental force" allows our minds to control our brains. If we did not have control, then we would be the same as automatons and would not be able to be punished for our crimes since they would not be our fault.The last chapter is Ch.10 - Attention Must Be Paid. As the title suggests, attention is the focal point of this section. The culmination of the research put forth and discussed in this book. It states that a person cannot change their brain if they are not paying attention. Attention serves as the vehicle for true neuroplasticity in humans. It creates our conscious and is also our focusing point in our perceived "reality."The Epilogue compiles the information from all of the previous chapters and brings the book to a close. Attention, as well as its place as the power behind human will, is given a second look. It also discusses how the author plans to further research into the mind, its awareness and true relation to the brain, and how all of that could be used to help treat certain disorders.Although I tried to convey all of the great aspects of this book, I, in no way, did this book the complete justice that it deserves. I would greatly recommend this book for a novice with a basic knowledge of the field of neuroscience or anyone else that is interested in learning more about true plasticity of the brain. I will definitely suggest buying the book to anyone that seems to be interested in the neuroscience community.Interesting Quotes from the Book"...through mindful awareness, you can stand outside your own mind as if you are watching what is happening to another rather than experiencing it yourself.""The will, I was starting to believe, generates a force.""Consciousness is more than perceiving and knowing; it is knowing that you know.""The rise of modern science...reduced human beings to automatons."...when the mind changes, so does the brain""...cognitive therapy alone seemed to lack what OCD patients needed.""...the Silver Spring monkeys also changed forever the dogma that the adult primate brain has lost the plasticity of childhood""...most believed that learning physically alters the brain.""the cortical representations...reflect the history of use of the motor system""The amount of cortical territory assigned to a given part of the body reflects not the size of that body part by its sensitivity""Neuroplasticity...refers to wholesale remapping of neural real estate""...brain plasticity follows an increase or decrease in sensory input""...both quantum physics and classical Buddhism give volition and choice a central role in the workings of the cosmos.""A quantum theory of mind, incorporating the discoveries of nonlocality and the Quantum Zeno Effect, offers the hope of mending the breach between science and moral philosophy."