--- title: "Neuroplasticity Therapy: How It Helps Brain Injury Recovery" description: Learn what neuroplasticity is, how it’s being used to heal brain injuries (often concussions), and exercises to encourage neuroplasticity at home. image: https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hubfs/Neuroplasticity%20Treatment%20-%20How%20It%20Can%20Help%20You%20Recover%20from%20a%20Brain%20Injury-1.png --- ![Light-Mode-Sun-Icon-SVG](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hubfs/Sun.svg) ![Dark-Mode-Moon-Icon-SVG](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hubfs/moon.svg) ###### 280 W River Park Drive Suite 110 Provo, UT ###### [+1 385 446-4161](tel:+13854464161) ###### [hello@cognitivefxusa.com](mailto:hello@cognitivefxusa.com) [![Main_Logo_500px 1](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hubfs/Main_Logo_500px%201.svg) ](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/) [**Get Started** ](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2921058/881eced2-ed9a-4b23-a8ba-b17b0921e4b3) - [Brain Injury Treatments](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/treatment) ![down arrow](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hubfs/down-arrow-1.svg) ### Your Treatment ###### [Post-Concussion Syndrome Treatment Our intensive EPIC program helps patients recover from symptoms that haven't responded to traditional care.](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/treatment) ###### [POTS Treatment POTS treatment clinic using neurological retraining, vestibular recalibration & CO₂ therapy. 5-day intensive program in Utah.](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/pots-treatment) ###### [Viral Brain Injury Treatment Long Covid-19, Post-Treatment Lyme, Encephalitis. 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Neuroplasticity Therapy: How It Helps Brain Injury Recovery # Neuroplasticity Therapy: How It Helps Brain Injury Recovery ![Image of Dr. Alina Fong, Ph.D.](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hubfs/Alina_150px.webp) Dr. Alina Fong, Ph.D. • Updated on 16 July, 2024 • Medically Reviewed by [Dr. Mark Allen](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/dr-mark-allen-phd) [mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/neuroplasticity-treatment-for-concussions%20&body=Check%20out%20https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/neuroplasticity-treatment-for-concussions&media=https://info.cognitivefxusa.com/hubfs/Neuroplasticity%20Treatment%20-%20How%20It%20Can%20Help%20You%20Recover%20from%20a%20Brain%20Injury-1.png](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/neuroplasticity-treatment-for-concussions%20&body=Check%20out%20https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/neuroplasticity-treatment-for-concussions&media=https://info.cognitivefxusa.com/hubfs/Neuroplasticity%20Treatment%20-%20How%20It%20Can%20Help%20You%20Recover%20from%20a%20Brain%20Injury-1.png) Neuroplasticity, from a clinician’s view, is the [ability](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23623982/) of the brain to change and heal itself. From a neuroscience perspective, neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to affect the synaptic transmission of information in response to external stimuli. In this article, we will address… - [What neuroplasticity is](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/neuroplasticity-treatment-for-concussions#one) - [How neuroplasticity is being used to help the brain recover from persistent symptoms](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/neuroplasticity-treatment-for-concussions#two) - [What neuroplasticity exercises for brain injury recovery involve](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/neuroplasticity-treatment-for-concussions#three) - [What neuroplasticity *can’t* fix](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/neuroplasticity-treatment-for-concussions#four) - [How to get the most out of neuroplasticity treatment](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/neuroplasticity-treatment-for-concussions#five) - [How to encourage healthy neuroplasticity at home.](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/neuroplasticity-treatment-for-concussions#six) At our concussion treatment center, we work with patients whose symptoms didn’t go away with rest and time. Neural plasticity is at the center of their recovery journeys. The brain’s ability to heal with therapy brings hope to our patients and to anyone else who has sustained a brain injury. Even those without injury or trauma can find an improved quality of life through neuroplasticity. *If you’re experiencing symptoms that won’t resolve after an mTBI, you’re not alone. And you’re not crazy. 90% of our patients show symptom improvement after just one week of treatment at our center specializing in **neuroplasticity**-driven therapy. To see if you are eligible for treatment, *[*sign up for a consultation*](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/consultation)*.* ## What Is Neuroplasticity? ![Therapist demonstrates a visual activity. ](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image16.jpg?width=1999&name=image16.jpg) The [Oxford Dictionary](https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/neuroplasticity) defines neuroplasticity as “the ability of the brain to form and reorganize synaptic connections, especially in response to learning or experience or following injury.” That said, the exact definition of neuroplasticity and all of the mechanisms behind it aren’t exactly settled science. From a patient’s perspective, neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to heal following injury when prompted by the right external stimuli. Most of the patients we see experience dysfunction in [*neurovascular coupling*](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/neurovascular-coupling) (NVC) pathways resulting from one or more concussions (or other forms of brain injury, such as [transient ischemic attack](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/after-effects-of-transient-ischemic-attack), [viral or bacterial infection](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/viral-encephalitis-long-term-effects-on-the-brain), long COVID, [carbon monoxide poisoning](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/brain-damage-from-carbon-monoxide-poisoning-nate-story), and more). *![image-1](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-1.jpg?width=552&height=244&name=image-1.jpg)* *Neurovascular coupling (NVC) is the connection between **neurons** and the blood vessels that supply them with oxygen and other nutrients.* What does that mean, exactly? NVC refers to the [connection](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5657612/) between your neurons and the blood vessels that supply them with oxygen. Healthy neural connections will send chemical and electrical signals to “call” for oxygen whenever they need to complete a process; in response, more blood will flow to that gray matter. NVC is a delicate and dynamic process; even small changes in communication between neurons and these blood vessels can have negative consequences on brain function. ### Neuroplasticity and Concussions ![image-3](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-3.jpg?width=552&height=612&name=image-3.jpg) In the regions damaged by a concussion, the communication between brain cells and the blood vessels that supply them can be disturbed. Sometimes, a brain region might signal for too little oxygen to perform its task; in other cases, it might signal for (and receive) more oxygen than required, overtaxing your system and causing it to ‘burnout’ more quickly. The result is cognitive impairment. With the right therapy, we can promote neuroplasticity in the affected neural network. This helps the brain to correct its signaling and use the right region for the right process and in the right way. Because of neural plasticity, your brain can restore connections to make that change happen. Some of the most [common concussion symptoms](https://blog.cognitivefxusa.com/symptoms-of-a-concussion-guide) that can result from poor neurovascular coupling include… | - Balance problems | - [Headache](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/concussion-headaches-and-post-concussion-headaches) | | --- | --- | | - [Brain fog](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/post-concussion-brain-fog-months-later) | - [Mood/personality changes](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/personality-changes-after-a-brain-injury-or-concussion) | | - Car sickness or nausea with motion | - [Nausea](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/post-concussion-nausea-what-to-do) | | - Change in (or loss of) taste or smell | - Persistent neck pain | | - [Difficulty concentrating](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/concussions-and-attention-deficit-disorder) | - [Sensitivity to light](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/light-sensitivity-causes-and-concussion-deep-dive) and noise | | - Difficulty finding things | - [Short-term memory problems](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/concussion-memory-loss-patient-stories) | | - Easy to distract | - [Sleep disturbances](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/post-concussion-syndrome-sleep-what-to-do) | | - [Fatigue](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/post-concussion-syndrome-extreme-fatigue-how-to-recover) | - Slowness to decide, think, speak, or act | | - Feelings of overwhelm | - [Vision issues](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/vision-problems-after-concussion) | | - [‘Foggy’ feeling or thinking](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/post-concussion-brain-fog-months-later) |   | It’s normal for these symptoms to linger for a week or two after a concussion. But when they persist for more than three months, you likely have [post-concussion syndrome (PCS)](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/post-concussion-syndrome-and-post-concussion-symptoms-pcs). Fortunately, there are exercises you can do to encourage healing via neuroplasticity under the care and attention of a trained therapist. *Further reading: *[*What can a **neurology** practice do for PCS *](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/what-can-a-neurologist-do-for-post-concussion-syndrome)and [*Types of head injury doctors*](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/head-injury-doctors) ### A Glimpse at Neuroplasticity Treatment Exercises ![Treatment includes a variety of physical and mental activities. ](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image9-2.jpg?width=1999&name=image9-2.jpg) Neuroplasticity can work for or against you. If neuroplastic changes are in response to a persistent *negative* behavior or stimulus, that can make your condition worse. Likewise, neuroplastic reorganization can be harnessed to heal and lessen your symptoms — if you know what you’re doing. To understand how we use therapy to promote neuroplasticity, let’s examine the process we use at our clinic. ![image-13](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-13.jpg?width=552&height=244&name=image-13.jpg) Every morning, the day begins with thirty minutes of [aerobic exercise](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/brain-injury-exercise). Cardio jumpstarts your body and your brain, making it [better able to respond](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32547460/) to therapy that encourages healthy neuroplasticity. That’s because of the ‘post-exercise cognitive boost’ (PECB), in which a cascade of healthy neurochemicals floods the brain. One of the most notable neurochemicals released by exercise is [brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33172145/), which [has been shown](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30036102/) to assist post-concussion recovery. ![Treatment always starts with whatever level of exercise you can handle. ](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image15.jpg?width=1999&name=image15.jpg) Not only does your body feel better, but with improved blood flow and neurochemicals from exercise, the brain functions better. That makes after a workout the perfect time to begin cognitive training. *Note: Many patients with PCS suffer from exercise intolerance. Fortunately, there are ways to exercise at the sub-symptom threshold (i.e., before it spikes severe symptoms). *[*Learn more about safe post-concussion exercise*](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/exercise-after-a-concussion)*.* At Cognitive FX, we use multidisciplinary therapy approaches, including… - [Physical and neuromuscular therapy](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/physical-therapy-for-post-concussion-syndrome) - Sensorimotor therapy - Occupational therapy - [Cognitive therapy](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/cognitive-therapy-for-brain-injury) - Neurointegration therapy (including vestibular therapy and vision therapy) - Dynavision exercises - Psychotherapy - And more. *![A therapist demonstrates using the Dynavision board, which challenges patients’ reaction times.](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image5.jpg?width=1999&name=image5.jpg)**A therapist demonstrates using the Dynavision board, which challenges patients’ reaction times.* For example, [Cognitive FX patient Sam Gray](https://blog.cognitivefxusa.com/tbi-recovery-story-sam-gray) found this occupational therapy exercise to be memorable: balancing on the flat side of a Bosu ball while a trainer had him name a fruit for every other letter of the alphabet, beginning with the letter Z… All while they tossed a football back and forth. *![image-10](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-10.jpg?width=552&height=244&name=image-10.jpg)Balancing on a BOSU ball while engaging in cognitive exercises is just one example of therapy offered at Cognitive FX.* In his case, balancing on the BOSU ball was activating a subcortical region of the brain. The exercise targeted areas involved in visually assessing his environment, maintaining balance, and seeing himself in relation to the space around him. Then, on the ball, he had to throw a football back and forth with his therapist, an ever-moving target. That activated areas involved in processes like visual tracking, visual search, hand-eye coordination, depth perception, and more. Finally, the exercise included a memory recall aspect. In his case, it was naming fruits beginning with the letter Z, but it could be about anything from food to famous people. The idea is to perform activities that challenge the brain while also forcing multisensory systems to engage. Obviously, the exercise described is more complex than something you might do on your first day of therapy. But it illustrates just how much you can do to engage brain plasticity. ![Therapist demonstrates sensorimotor therapy exercise. ](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image4-2.jpg?width=1999&name=image4-2.jpg) Or, consider sensorimotor therapy. You might fight yourself clapping and stomping along to a metronome in a pattern given to you by your therapist all while playing Taboo or completing a visual search puzzle. ***Note****: The above examples are just a small fraction of the therapy exercises that we use to help concussion patients rewire their brains and heal from injuries. If you want to learn more about whether you could benefit from this treatment, *[*schedule a consultation with our team*](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/consultation)*.* ### Pacing Is Key to Good Neuroplasticity Therapy Neuroplasticity rehabilitation is a stepwise process. You don’t jump into the hardest “brain training” exercises on day one. And you also don’t want to go from one cognitive exercise to another without rest. In our practice, patients cycle through physical exercise, cognitive exercise, and rest multiple times throughout the day. You prepare the body with cardio, activate the brain as much as you can, and then rest until you’re able to do it all over again. Patients cycle through increasingly harder therapies throughout the course of treatment. Breaks sometimes include using [apps for binaural therapy](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/brain-wave-35-binaural-series/id307219387) (calming sounds and two distinct sound frequencies that your brain combines into a relaxing wavelength). Our patients also learn how to practice mindfulness and meditation.  It’s critical to have more than just one or two therapy sessions per week if you want the brain to use plasticity to heal itself, which is why we take the cycle of exercise and rest seriously. ## How Do We Know Neuroplasticity Therapy Works? Patients self-report symptom severity before and after treatment, and the results are remarkable. On average, patients improve 60% in their symptoms during the course of one week of treatment and continue improving once they’re home. But we don’t have to rely only on patient reports: **We use fNCI to verify that ****neuroplasticity****-based therapy is helping.** [fNCI stands for “functional neurocognitive imaging.”](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/about-fnci) It’s a type of functional [magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/can-an-mri-detect-post-concussion-syndrome) that shows blood flow in the brain. Brain activity is inferred by identifying blood flow patterns. Patients do cognitive tasks during the scan so we can see if each brain area involved in completing that task is calling for and using oxygen normally or abnormally. *![image-6](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-6.jpg?width=552&height=244&name=image-6.jpg)fNCI provides **neuroimages** to ‘see’ the results of **neuroplasticity** treatment at Cognitive FX in action. * The scan images 56 brain regions and looks at communication between them. This type of fMRI provides a wealth of information that helps us understand what’s causing your symptoms. For example, poor NVC in the hippocampus could lead to compromised neurogenesis and difficulties with different but recurrent [short-term memory](https://www.cell.com/neuron/fulltext/S0896-6273(11)00393-X?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS089662731100393X%3Fshowall%3Dtrue) formation (such as remembering where you left your keys *today* instead of *yesterday*). Poor NVC in the basal ganglia, a subcortical structure found deep in the brain, could impact motor control, multitasking, emotions, and more. The image below shows additional information about connections between brain regions. Certain brain regions talk to each other all the time; others rarely need to interact. Those that do talk have something like a highway of synapses that have strengthened their connections to each other. And when one region lights up, the others should light up in the same way. This part of the fNCI helps us to see which brain regions aren’t talking to each other as much as they should and which ones are talking to each other *more* than they should. That way, we can promote healthier connections during therapy.  ![image-2](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-2.jpg?width=552&height=255&name=image-2.jpg) Some regions included in the scan are the left and right hippocampal areas, inferior frontal gyrus (IFG), and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Red shows over-connected regions; blue shows under-connected regions. In the scan above, for example, we can see that the right insula and the right inferior gyrus are overcommunicating. Maladaptive neuroplasticity after a brain injury can cause these communication changes in the brain. The scan includes many cortical and subcortical structures, but cannot cover every part of the brain. For example, the fNCI can’t accurately assess pituitary gland or amygdala function.  In addition to fNCI, we also perform a structural MRI on the brain and cervical spine to ensure that your brain structures and bones are unharmed by your injury. If we do detect any structural changes, we will refer you to a neurosurgeon for further consultation. Using fNCI means we have much greater specificity than most treatment providers because we know which brain regions to target during therapy. We also compare pre-treatment and post-treatment scans to verify functional changes in neurovascular coupling. ## Is There Anything Neuroplasticity Treatment Can’t Fix? ![A doctor evaluates a head scan. ](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image11-3.jpg?width=1000&name=image11-3.jpg) Neuroplasticity cannot be used to revive dead tissue in the brain, but it can be used to form pathways around it. There are a number of conditions and symptoms — such as cognitive decline from Alzheimer’s disease — that we do not treat in our clinic, but other clinics use neuroplasticity to improve the lives of those who suffer from these conditions. But for most patients with mild traumatic brain injuries, understanding neuroplasticity can guide  rehabilitation and facilitate improvement in symptoms stemming from the injury, ranging from attention difficultiesto balance issues to headaches. Cognitive function is significantly improved by therapy in most patients. However, there are some symptom categories we can’t specifically target or for which research is still nascent, such as migrainous headaches, primary mental health disorders, and hormone dysregulation. *Note: While we don’t treat patients with **brain damage** from severe **traumatic brain injury** during their acute recovery, we do work with them to help lessen the severity of *[*long-term TBI symptoms*](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/traumatic-brain-injury-long-term-effects-and-treatment)*. If you have lingering symptoms from a TBI and want to improve your **quality of life**, *[*contact our team*](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/get-started)*.* ### Neuroplasticity for Depression, Anxiety, Anger, and More Our treatment plan is not designed to resolve mental health disorders that began before your injury. But any emotional symptoms that arose after your brain injury could improve if they are tied to neurovascular coupling, [autonomic nervous system dysfunction](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/post-concussion-autonomic-dysfunction-dysautonomia), or the change in your quality of life due to injuring those areas of the brain. The catch here is that there is [very little](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7047599/) research connecting neuroplasticity and improved emotional symptoms. Clinically, we have seen many patients’ emotional symptoms improve. But we don’t have a full understanding of why that is, and cannot make the claim that neuroplasticity is the direct cause for their improvement. To learn more about what we *do* know regarding these conditions, please visit these posts: - [Post-concussion depression](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/depression-after-concussion-and-post-concussion-syndrome) - [Anxiety after a mild TBI](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/long-term-anxiety-after-concussion) - [Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after brain injury](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/concussion-ptsd-post-traumatic-stress-disorder) - [Post-concussion "personality changes" and mood swings](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/personality-changes-after-a-brain-injury-or-concussion) ### Neuroplasticity for Hormone Dysregulation *![image-14](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-14.jpg?width=552&height=244&name=image-14.jpg)This image highlights the pituitary gland. Injuring the pituitary gland during a concussion can result in hormone dysregulation.* We often see patients who have many of the “traditional” post-concussion symptoms along with hormone problems. Maybe your cortisol levels get inexplicably low without necessarily being in adrenal failure territory. Maybe your child suddenly stopped growing and you’ve since learned that they aren’t producing enough growth hormone. Maybe you’re tired *all the time* and found out that low thyroid hormone is contributing to the problem. If so, you’re in good company. There is a growing body of new research from clinical trials, research universities, and more to show that [concussions](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30929221/) can also cause hormone dysregulation (i.e., hormones that aren’t at the levels they should be when they need to be) due to changes in the function of either the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus. In many cases, these hormones being “off” can cause many of the symptoms associated with post-concussion syndrome, from difficulty sleeping to exhaustion. But because research affirming that concussions can cause hormone dysregulation is so new, and because we can’t use fNCI to image the brain regions responsible for hormone production, we don’t have a way to treat these difficulties using neuroplasticity. *Further reading: *[*Hormone dysfunction after a **brain injury*](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/post-traumatic-brain-injury-hormone-dysregulation)* and *[*How to talk to your doctor about hormone imbalance*](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/how-to-talk-to-your-doctor-about-hormone-imbalance) For some patients, hormone deficits may improve after getting treatment for nearby parts of the brain. But many still need replacement hormones to finish the job. While we don’t prescribe those ourselves, we do refer patients to an endocrinologist for assistance whenever they need it. As we continue our clinical practice, we hope to discover new and better ways to help these patients recover and thrive after treatment. ***Note:**** One of our patients who experienced hormone dysregulation in conjunction with other post-concussion symptoms *[*wrote about her treatment experience*](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/figure-skating-concussion-recovery-story)*. We helped her feel better and have more energy; we’d love to help you, too. *[*Sign up for a consultation*](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/consultation)* to find out if you’re eligible for treatment at our clinic.* ## Ways to Get the Most Out of Neuroplasticity Therapy ![image-12](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-12.jpg?width=552&height=205&name=image-12.jpg) No matter where you go for treatment, there are a few ways to get the most out of your therapy sessions: **1. Embrace the will to make a change.** We’re not talking about optimism vs. pessimism here. But it helps tremendously if you consciously choose to do everything you can to get better. By cultivating the belief that you can and will change, you help your brain do what it needs to heal. Positive thinking alone can’t heal the human brain. But when it’s combined with therapy that drives neuroplasticity in a positive direction, it’s a very powerful component in recovery. **2. Have a support system in place.** You don’t have to have amazing family and friends to recover, but having one or two people you can rely on during recovery makes a big difference. Could someone in your life travel with you to treatment? If not, are there ways they can help you prepare before you leave and readjust when you return? *Further reading: *[*What family and friends can do to help TBI and mTBI patients *](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/how-to-help-someone-with-traumatic-brain-injury-concussion)and [*Support groups for post-concussion syndrome*](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/post-concussion-syndrome-pcs-support-group) **3. Focus on addictions first.** Major addictions to drugs or alcohol can seriously inhibit treatment efficacy. We recommend that patients resolve existing addictions to the extent they are able before pursuing treatment. Otherwise, they are usually unable to give treatment their full attention — and their recovery suffers as a result. Even hitting the caffeine too hard can make treatment difficult. We strongly recommend seeking therapeutic interventions for serious addictions before starting treatment, no matter where you choose to go for help. *Further reading: *[*How alcohol and caffeine affect recovery from post-concussion symptoms*](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/alcohol-caffeine-concussion-recovery) ## What You Can Do at Home *![image-8](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-8.jpg?width=552&height=244&name=image-8.jpg)Solving Sudoku puzzles probably won’t result in **brain changes** and **new connections** from **neuroplasticity**.* While you can’t treat a brain injury alone, you can help your brain be at its best with certain practices. Contrary to popular belief, solving Sudoku puzzles isn’t really rewiring the adult brain or keeping it “plastic.” And it certainly won’t resolve symptoms from a head injury. Fortunately, there are steps you can take at home to encourage a healthy brain prone to neuroplasticity.  Here’s a short list: 1. **Get enough sleep. **This is by far the most important item on the list. Getting enough rest means your brain will be ready to change and heal. Here’s a resource on [sleeping well after a brain injury](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/post-concussion-syndrome-sleep-what-to-do). 2. **Get in your cardio.** In general, four times per week for at least 20 minutes is the minimum you should aim to do. Physical activity will give your brain the energy it needs to forge new neural pathways in addition to promoting general well-being. [Read this post if you’re struggling to exercise post-injury](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/exercise-after-a-concussion). 3. **Eat better. **Avoid excessive amounts of alcohol and caffeine, as these affect your brain. Try to incorporate healthy, unprocessed, or “whole” foods into your diet as much as possible and avoid excess sugar. Consider reading our post on [nutrition for brain health after injury](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/nutrition-for-post-concussion-syndrome). Proper nutrition can give your brain the fuel it needs to forge new pathways or re-engage old ones that were affected by injury. 4. **Reduce stress.** Stress is [a contributing factor in](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3341916/) the top six leading causes of death in the United States. It also inhibits neuroplasticity. At the risk of sounding like every other doctor you’ve spoken to, find ways to reduce stress in your life. Your brain will thank you. 5. **Learn something new.** We’re not just talking about a fact per day. Learning new skills that really challenge you — such as a new language, dance, knitting, etc. — can do amazing things for your brain plasticity. 6. **Play brain games. **Here’s a list of [17 cognitive exercises you can do at home](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/cognitive-exercises-for-post-concussion-syndrome). ## Conclusion If you’ve sustained a mild traumatic brain injury — concussion or otherwise — and experience symptoms that won’t resolve on their own, neuroplasticity could be the key to your recovery. On average, our patients notice a 60% improvement in their symptoms after one week of treatment at our center specializing in neuroplasticity-driven therapy. Whether you’re an adolescent or older adult, neuroplasticity can still help.  *To see if you are eligible for treatment, *[*sign up for a consultation*](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/consultation)*.* --- ![Image of Dr. Alina Fong, Ph.D.](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Alina_150px.webp?height=150&name=Alina_150px.webp) ### About the author [Dr. Alina Fong, Ph.D.](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/author/dr-alina-fong-phd) Alina Fong, Ph.D. is a clinical neuropsychologist and the Clinical Director and Co-Founder of Cognitive FX. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Neuropsychology with an emphasis in Neuroimaging from Brigham Young University, where she received the American Psychological Association Division 40 Graduate Student Research Award for her neuroimaging research. Dr. Fong has over 17 years of clinical experience treating traumatic brain injury, beginning with her work at the VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System and Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, where she directed the neurotrauma rehabilitation and sports concussion clinics. She developed the EPIC Treatment protocol and has personally overseen treatment for nearly 8,000 brain injury patients, including professional athletes from the NFL, NHL, and Olympics. She serves as Vice President of the Brain Injury Alliance of Utah, sits on the board of the United States Brain Injury Alliance, and advises PINK Concussions. Dr. Fong has authored peer-reviewed research on functional MRI and concussion treatment and has presented at over 60 medical conferences, including the Federal Interagency Conference on TBI and the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine. [Follow me on my website ](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/dr-alina-k-fong-phd) ## Related Posts ![fMRI of injured brain from concussion](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Final%20FMRI%20comparison%20image%20healthy%20vs%20injured%20post%20concussion.jpg?height=175&name=Final%20FMRI%20comparison%20image%20healthy%20vs%20injured%20post%20concussion.jpg) ### Post-Concussion Difficulty Concentrating: Cause and Treatments ![Image of Dr. Alina Fong, Ph.D.](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Alina_150px.webp?height=70&name=Alina_150px.webp) [Dr. Alina Fong, Ph.D.](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/author/dr-alina-fong-phd) # **Post-Concussion Difficulty Concentrating: Causes & Treatment Options** "I can't focus on anything for more than a few minutes." "I keep reading the same paragraph over and over." "My mind feels like... [Read the full article ](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/post-concussion-difficulty-concentrating-cause-and-treatments) ![The Truth About Neuroplasticity](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/The%20Truth%20About%20Neuroplasticity.png?height=175&name=The%20Truth%20About%20Neuroplasticity.png) ### The Truth About Neuroplasticity ![Image of Cognitive FX Team](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Rounded-C-R.jpg?height=70&name=Rounded-C-R.jpg) [Cognitive FX Team](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/author/dr-alina-fong-phd) Dr. Norman Doidge M.D. is a psychiatrist and a psychoanalyst. He has written many books including New York Times Best Seller, “The Brain that Changes Itself.” He also has written [“The Brain’s Way of...](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/the-brains-way-of-healing) [Read the full article ](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/the-truth-about-neuroplasticity) ![Neurology vs Neuropsychology for Concussion Treatment](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Neurology%20vs%20Neuropsychology%20for%20Concussion%20Treatment.png?height=175&name=Neurology%20vs%20Neuropsychology%20for%20Concussion%20Treatment.png) ### Neurology vs Neuropsychology for Concussion Treatment ![Image of Dr. Alina Fong, Ph.D.](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Alina_150px.webp?height=70&name=Alina_150px.webp) [Dr. Alina Fong, Ph.D.](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/author/dr-alina-fong-phd) #### **Neurology Vs. Neuropsychology: One of these is not like the other…** Neurologists and Neuropsychologists often get mistaken as one and the same. Although there are some similarities, the differences... [Read the full article ](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/neurology-vs-neuropsychology-for-concussion-treatment) ![brain-damage-from-carbon-monoxide-poisoning-nate-story](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/brain-damage-from-carbon-monoxide-poisoning-nate-story.png?height=175&name=brain-damage-from-carbon-monoxide-poisoning-nate-story.png) ### Brain Damage from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning | Cognitive FX [Olivia Seitz](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/author/dr-alina-fong-phd) If you speak to him today, you’d never be able to guess that Nathan “Nate” Benson is a brain injury survivor. The Bountiful, Utah native is in his final year of undergraduate school for a... [Read the full article ](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/brain-damage-from-carbon-monoxide-poisoning-nate-story) ![Do I have a concussion? Take the quiz.](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/do-I-have-a-concussion-quiz.jpg?height=175&name=do-I-have-a-concussion-quiz.jpg) ### Do I Have a Concussion? Free Quiz & Test — No Email Needed ![Image of Dr. Alina Fong, Ph.D.](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Alina_150px.webp?height=70&name=Alina_150px.webp) [Dr. Alina Fong, Ph.D.](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/author/dr-alina-fong-phd) {% module_block module "widget_83da2676-2f2f-483b-85b4-689db06c3901" %}{% module_attribute "child_css" is_json="true" %}{}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "css"... [Read the full article ](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/do-i-have-a-concussion-quiz) ![Navigating Mental Health After Severe TBI and Concussion](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/navigating-mental-health-after-tbi-and-concussion.png?height=175&name=navigating-mental-health-after-tbi-and-concussion.png) ### Mental Health After TBI or Concussion: Recovery Is Possible | Cognitive FX ![Image of Dr. Alina Fong, Ph.D.](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Alina_150px.webp?height=70&name=Alina_150px.webp) [Dr. Alina Fong, Ph.D.](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/author/dr-alina-fong-phd) Mild or severe traumatic brain injury (concussion and TBI) can cause upsetting[changes](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31177238/)to your mental health. Brain injury can worsen pre-existing mental illness or cause new symptoms — such as... [Read the full article ](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/navigating-mental-health-after-tbi-and-concussion) #### Proven Results Improvement in 77% of Participants Published peer-reviewed research shows that Cognitive FX treatment leads to meaningful symptom reduction in post-concussion symptoms for 77% of study participants. Cognitive FX is the only PCS clinic with third-party validated treatment outcomes. [ READ FULL STUDY ](https://www.tvnp.nl/inhoud/tijdschrift_artikel/NP-19-2-3/Cognitive-FX-behandeling-voor-aanhoudende-klachten-na-een-hersenschudding-Observatie-van-verandering-in-functioneren) [![Main_Logo_500px](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Main_Logo_500px.png?width=257&height=78&name=Main_Logo_500px.png "Main_Logo_500px")](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com) Comprehensive Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment 280 W River Park Drive Suite 110 Provo, UT 84604 [Follow us on Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/cognitivefx) [Follow us on Instagram ](https://www.instagram.com/cognitive_fx) #### Quick Links - [Blog](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog) - [Sign-Up for Free Consultation](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/start-here-paperwork-old) #### Support - [Contact Us](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/contactus) - [Patient Results](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/treatment-outcomes) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/privacypolicy) - [Terms & Conditions](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/terms-and-conditions) #### Solutions - [Good Fit Quiz](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/start-here-paperwork-old) - [EPIC Treatment](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/treatment) - [Post-Concussion Syndrome Information](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/post-concussion-syndrome-and-post-concussion-symptoms-pcs) - [fNCI Brain Scan](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/about-fnci) - [Online Course](https://cognitivefx.thinkific.com/courses/headaches) #### Company - [About](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/research-history) - [Press & Media](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/media) - [Our Team](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/our-team) ### Sign Up For Our Newsletter Copyright © Cognitive FX 2024. All Rights Reserved. | [Privacy Policy](https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/neuroplasticity-treatment-for-concussions#) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Dr. Alina Fong, Ph.D.", "url" : "https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/author/dr-alina-fong-phd" }, "dateModified" : "2024-07-16T19:03:39.275Z", "datePublished" : "2019-05-23T16:30:25.000Z", "headline" : "Neuroplasticity Therapy: How It Helps Brain Injury Recovery", "image" : [ "https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hubfs/Neuroplasticity%20Treatment%20-%20How%20It%20Can%20Help%20You%20Recover%20from%20a%20Brain%20Injury-1.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/neuroplasticity-treatment-for-concussions", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hubfs/Cognitive-Final-Logo-BlBlk-Med.png" }, "name" : "Cognitive FX" } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "Article", "about" : { "@type" : "MedicalCondition", "name" : "" }, "audience" : { "@type" : "Audience", "audienceType" : [ "patient", "caregiver" ] }, "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "affiliation" : { "@type" : "MedicalOrganization", "name" : "Cognitive FX", "url" : "https://www.cognitivefxusa.com" }, "name" : "Dr. Alina Fong, Ph.D." }, "dateModified" : "16 July, 2024", "datePublished" : "2019-05-23 16:30:25", "description" : "Learn what neuroplasticity is, how it’s being used to heal brain injuries (often concussions), and exercises to encourage neuroplasticity at home.", "headline" : "Neuroplasticity Therapy: How It Helps Brain Injury Recovery", "image" : "", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/neuroplasticity-treatment-for-concussions", "@type" : [ "MedicalWebPage" ], "breadcrumb" : { "@type" : "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement" : [ { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : "https://www.cognitivefxusa.com", "name" : "Cognitive FX Home", "position" : 1 }, { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : "https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog", "name" : "Blog Home", "position" : 2 }, { "@type" : "ListItem", "item" : "https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/neuroplasticity-treatment-for-concussions", "name" : "Neuroplasticity Therapy: How It Helps Brain Injury Recovery", "position" : 3 } ] }, "lastReviewed" : "1721156619281", "reviewedBy" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "" } }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "brand" : { "@type" : "Organization", "name" : "Cognitive FX", "sameAs" : [ "https://www.linkedin.com/in/cognitive-fx-usa/", "https://www.instagram.com/cognitive_fx/", "https://twitter.com/cognitivefx", "https://www.facebook.com/cognitivefx/", "https://www.pinterest.com/cognitivefx/", "https://www.tiktok.com/@cognitivefx" ] }, "name" : "Cognitive FX", "url" : "https://www.cognitivefxusa.com" } } ``` ```json { "@context": "http://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "Neuroplasticity Treatment: How It Can Help You Recover From a Brain Injury", "name": "Neuroplasticity Treatment: How It Can Help You Recover From a Brain Injury", "url": "https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/neuroplasticity-treatment-for-concussions", "mainEntityOfPage": "https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/neuroplasticity-treatment-for-concussions", "image": "https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/neuroplasticity-treatment-for-concussions-4.jpg", "datePublished": "2018-05-23", "dateModified": "2018-05-23", "articleSection": ["CONCUSSIONS", "TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY", "EDUCATION & RESOURCES", "BRAIN SAFETY & CARE", "POST CONCUSSION TREATMENT"], "about": [ { "@type": "MedicalCondition", "name": "Concussion", "sameAs": ["https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concussion", "http://dbpedia.org/page/Concussion", "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q326921"] }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Neuroplasticity", "sameAs": ["https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuroplasticity", "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q849491", "http://dbpedia.org/page/Neuroplasticity"] } ], "articleBody": "Neuroplasticity, from a clinician's view, is the ability of the brain to change and heal itself. From a scientific perspective, neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to affect the synaptic transmission of information in response to external stimuli. In this article, we will address: What neuroplasticity is How neuroplasticity is being used to heal mild traumatic brain injury (concussions) What to prioritize if you want to encourage neuroplasticity at home. At our concussion treatment center, we work with patients whose symptoms didn't go away with rest and time. Neural plasticity is at the center of their recovery journeys. The brain's ability to heal with therapy brings hope to our patients and to anyone else who has sustained a brain injury. Even those without injury or trauma can find an improved quality of life through neuroplasticity. If you're experiencing symptoms that won't resolve after an mTBI, you're not alone. And you're not crazy. On average, our patients improve by 75% after treatment at our center specializing in neuroplasticity-driven therapy. To see if you are eligible for treatment, sign up for a free consultation. What Is Neuroplasticity? The Oxford Dictionary defines neuroplasticity as \"the ability of the brain to form and reorganize synaptic connections, especially in response to learning or experience or following injury.\" That said, the exact definition of neuroplasticity and all of the mechanisms behind it aren't exactly settled science. From a patient's perspective, neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to heal following injury when prompted by the right external stimuli. Most of the patients we see have sustained damage to neurovascular coupling (NVC) pathways resulting from one or more concussions. Neurovascular coupling (NVC) is the connection between neurons and blood vessels.Neurovascular coupling (NVC) is the connection between neurons and blood vessels. What does that mean, exactly? NVC refers to the connection between your neurons and the blood vessels that supply them with oxygen. Healthy neural connections will send chemical and electrical signals to \"call\" for oxygen whenever they need to complete a process; in response, more blood will flow to the region to provide that oxygen. Neuroplasticity and Concussions But in the regions damaged by a concussion, that communication between brain cells and the blood vessels that supply them can be disturbed. Sometimes, the brain might signal for too little oxygen to perform its task (hypoactivity); in other cases, it might signal for (and receive) more oxygen than required, overtaxing your system and causing it to 'burn out' more quickly (hyperactivity). With the right therapy, we can promote neuroplasticity in the affected neural network. This helps the brain to correct its signaling and use the right region for the right process and in the right way. Because of neural plasticity, your brain can restore connections to make that change happen. You can read this post on symptoms of a concussion to learn more about how concussions affect the brain and disturb neurovascular coupling. A Glimpse at Neuroplasticity Treatment Exercises Neuroplasticity can work for or against you. If the brain re-trains itself in response to a persistent negative behavior or stimulus, that can make your condition worse. Likewise, neuroplasticity can be harnessed to heal and lessen your symptoms — if you know what you're doing. To understand how we use therapy to promote neuroplasticity, let's examine a common routine our patients use while at our clinic. Every morning, the day begins with thirty minutes of cardio exercise, or exercise that raises your heart rate. Cardio jumpstarts your body and your brain, ensuring there is plenty of oxygen available for your brain to use in the following therapy. This results in what we call the post-exercise cognitive boost (PECB). Not only does your body feel better, but with all the extra blood and energy available to the brain, the brain functions better. So right after cardio is the perfect time to begin cognitive therapy. For example, Cognitive FX patient Sam Gray found this occupational therapy exercise to be memorable: balancing on the flat side of a Bosu ball while a trainer had him name a fruit for every other letter of the alphabet, beginning with the letter Z… All while they tossed a football back and forth. Balancing on a BOSU ball is just one part of one type of therapy offered at Cognitive FX. In his case, balancing on the BOSU ball was activating a subcortical region of the brain. The exercise targeted areas involved in visually assessing his environment, maintaining balance, and seeing himself in relation to the space around him. Then, on the ball, he had to throw a football back and forth with his therapist, an ever-moving, circling target. That activated areas involved in processes like visual tracking, visual search, hand-eye coordination, depth perception, and more. Finally, the exercise included a memory recall aspect. In his case, it was naming fruits beginning with the letter Z, but it could be about anything from food to famous people. The idea is to perform activities that challenge the brain while also forcing multisensory systems to engage. Obviously, the exercise described is more complex than something you might do on your first day of therapy. But it illustrates just how much you can do to engage brain plasticity. Note: The above story is just one example of one fraction of a therapy appointment that we use to help concussion patients rewire their brains and heal from injuries. If you want to learn more about whether you could benefit from this treatment, schedule a free consultation. Pacing Is Key to Good Neuroplasticity Therapy Neuroplasticity rehabilitation is a stepwise process. You don't jump into the hardest \"brain training\" exercises on day one. And you also don't want to go from one cognitive exercise to another without rest. In our practice, patients cycle through physical exercise, cognitive exercise, and rest multiple times throughout the day. You prepare the body with cardio, activate the brain as much as you can, and then rest until you're able to do it all over again. Patients cycle through increasingly harder therapies throughout the course of a week. It's critical to have more than just one or two therapy sessions per week if you want the brain to use plasticity to heal itself. How Do We Know Neuroplasticity Therapy Works? Patients self-report symptom improvement before and after treatment, and the results are remarkable. But we don't have to rely only on patient reports: We use fNCI to see that neuroplasticity is real and that it works. fNCI stands for \"functional neurocognitive imaging.\" It's a type of functional MRI (which stands for \"magnetic resonance imaging\") that shows blood flow in the brain. Brain activity is inferred by identifying areas with more blood flow. Patients do cognitive tasks during the scan, and we can see if each brain area involved in completing that task is calling for and using oxygen. fNCI allows us to see the results of neuroplasticity treatment at Cognitive FX in action.fNCI (as in the example above) allows us to see the results of neuroplasticity treatment at Cognitive FX in action. Thanks to this technology, we're able to see and target the specific regions affected by your injury. We also compare pre-treatment and post-treatment scans to verify NVC changes and recovery. For example, 95% of our patients show statistically significant improvement on their post-treatment scan. And, on average, they show over 75% improvement on their final scan. You can read more about fNCI and how it's used in conjunction with neuroplasticity-based rehabilitation here. Is There Anything Neuroplasticity Healing Can't Fix? Neuroplasticity cannot be used to revive dead tissue in the brain, but it can be used to form pathways around it. There are a number of conditions and symptoms — such as Alzheimer's disease or major traumatic brain injury — that we do not treat in our clinic, but other clinics use neuroplasticity to improve the lives of those who suffer from these more severe conditions. But for most patients with mild traumatic brain injuries, understanding neuroplasticity can guide rehabilitation and facilitate improvement in symptoms stemming from the injury, ranging from attention difficulties to balance issues to headaches. Cognitive function is significantly improved by therapy in most patients. However, there are some symptom categories we can't specifically target and/or for which research is still nascent, such as migrainous headaches, primary mental health disorders, and hormone dysregulation. Neuroplasticity for Depression, Anxiety, Anger, and More Our treatment plan is not designed to help with depression, anxiety disorders, or learning disorders that began before your injury. But any emotional symptoms that arose after your brain injury could improve if they are tied to the change in your quality of life due to injuring those areas of the brain. The catch here is that there is very little research connecting neuroplasticity and improved emotional symptoms. Clinically, we have seen many patients' emotional symptoms improve. But we don't have a full understanding of why that is, and cannot make the claim that neuroplasticity is the direct cause for their improvement. Neuroplasticity for Hormone Dysregulation neuroplasticity-treatment-for-concussions-5This image highlights the pituitary gland. Injuring the pituitary gland during a concussion can result in hormone dysregulation. We often see patients who have many of the \"traditional\" post concussion symptoms along with hormone problems. Maybe your cortisol levels get inexplicably low, without necessarily being in adrenal failure territory. Maybe your child suddenly stopped growing, and you've since learned that they aren't producing enough growth hormone. Maybe you're tired all the time and found out that low thyroid hormone is contributing to the problem. If so, you're in good company. There is a growing body of new research from clinical trials, research universities, and more to show that concussions can also cause hormone dysregulation (i.e., hormones that aren't at the levels they should be when they need to be) due to changes in the function of either the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus. In many cases, these hormones being \"off\" can cause many of the symptoms associated with post-concussion syndrome, from difficulty sleeping to exhaustion. But because research affirming that concussions can cause hormone dysregulation is so new, we don't have a way to treat these difficulties using neuroplasticity. For some patients, hormone levels may improve after getting treatment for other parts of the brain. But many still need replacement hormones to finish the job. While we don't prescribe those ourselves, we do refer patients to a local endocrinologist for assistance whenever they need it. As we continue research, we hope to discover new and better ways to help these patients recover and thrive after treatment. Ways to Get the Most Out of Neuroplasticity Healing No matter where you go for treatment, there are a few ways to get the most out of your therapy sessions. Embrace the will to make a change. We're not talking about optimism vs. pessimism here. But it helps tremendously if you consciously choose to do everything you can to get better. By cultivating the belief that you can and will change, you help your brain do what it needs to heal. Positive thinking alone can't heal the human brain. But when it's combined with therapy that drives neuroplasticity in a positive direction, it's a very powerful component in recovery. Have a support system in place. You don't have to have amazing family and friends to recover, but having one or two people you can rely on during recovery makes a big difference. Could someone in your life travel with you to treatment? If not, are there ways they can help you prepare before you leave and readjust when you return? Focus on addictions first. Major addictions to drugs or alcohol can seriously inhibit treatment efficacy. We recommend that patients resolve existing addictions to the extent they are able before pursuing treatment. Otherwise, they are usually unable to give treatment their full attention — and their recovery suffers as a result. Even hitting the caffeine too hard can make treatment difficult. We strongly recommend discussing and addressing addictions before starting treatment, no matter where you choose to go for help. What You Can Do at Home neuroplasticity-treatment-for-concussions-6Solving Sudoku puzzles probably won't result in brain changes and new connections from neuroplasticity. While you can't treat a brain injury alone, you can help your brain be at its best with certain practices. Contrary to popular belief, solving Sudoku puzzles won't really keep an adult brain \"plastic.\" And it certainly won't resolve symptoms from a concussion. But there are things you can do at home to encourage a healthy brain prone to neuroplasticity. Here's a short list: Get enough sleep. This is by far the most important item on the list. Getting enough rest means your brain will be ready to change and heal. Get in your cardio. In general, four times per week for at least 20 minutes is the minimum you should aim to do. Physical activity will give your brain the energy it needs to forge new neural pathways in addition to promoting general well-being. Eat better. Avoid excessive amounts of alcohol and caffeine, as these affect your brain. Try to incorporate healthy, unprocessed or \"whole\" foods into your diet as much as possible. Reduce stress. Stress is linked to the top six leading causes of death in the United States. It also inhibits neuroplasticity. At the risk of sounding like every other doctor you've spoken to, find ways to reduce stress in your life. Your brain will thank you. Learn something new. We're not just talking about a fact per day. Learning new skills that really challenge you — such as a new language, dance, knitting, etc. — can do amazing things for your brain plasticity. Conclusion If you've sustained a mild traumatic brain injury — concussion or otherwise — and experience symptoms that won't resolve on their own, neuroplasticity could be the key to your recovery. You're not alone, and you're not crazy. On average, our patients improve by 75% after treatment at our center specializing in neuroplasticity-driven therapy. To see if you are eligible for treatment, sign up for a free consultation.", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dr. Alina Fong PhD", "sameAs": "https://www.cognitivefxusa.com/blog/author/dr-alina-fong-phd", "description": "Alina K. Fong received her PhD in Clinical Neuropsychology with an emphasis in neuroradiology from Brigham Young University. 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