Changing the Mind 2010
Distributed by Icarus Films, 32 Court St., 21st Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201; 800-876-1710
Produced by CBC
Director n/a
DVD, color
College - Adult
Education, Science, Health Sciences
Date Entered: 06/04/2012
Reviewed by Thomas I. Nathaniel, PhD, University of South Carolina, School of Medicine, Greenville, SCThe video presents compelling cases involving post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic neurological disorders that are used to demonstrate how the changing brain plays an important role in treating mental diseases and disorders. It also explores the latest research that offers optimism to those suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and even schizophrenia. The film is an important tool for educational or instructional use for undergraduate neuroscience and psychology students. It is comparable to In Search of Memory (2009) and Mind in Motion (2008).
Recent discoveries in neuroplasticity research have transformed our understanding of the brain. One of the new discoveries is that our brains are continuously changing structure and function. This indicates that the adult human brain is not “hard-wired” but plastic – always changing. This is applicable even during old age, and represents a piece of good news and hope for our aging population. More importantly, this film opens new lines of treatments for many neurological diseases and disorders once thought incurable.
The greatest strength of Changing the Mind is that it highlights some of this new research in neuroplasticity. It focuses on the recovery from mental illness and disability such as schizophrenia. It is important to note that treatments which rely solely on computer drills seem to miss the point that neuroplasticity can be best achieved through fine motor activity.