Question about Bright Air, Brilliant Fire by Harold Edelman

[cobalt124]

Hopefully I'm posting in the correct place. This book was written in the early 90's and I've just read it earlier this year. I also have a (very laymans) interest in neuroplasticity. I believed this was a very recent concept, but a bit of digging revealed the term was first coined in the 1970's and the first experiments carried out in the 1940's. So I am wondering how (if) the book relates to neuroplasticity, as I don't think the term is mentioned at all in the book, and how the notion of brain maps in the book relates to that notion today. Based on posts on this forum, I believe the notion of a brain map is very general. The book sets out a theory of brain development and function, and the blurb on the back suggests it "should generate a lot of experiments". I guess I'm asking, Did it? Is it a basis for current work on brain function, or has it been shot down? Where does it fit in the big picture? What are the developments between the books publication and today? Thanks.

 

[Aaron Bex]

I'm not an expert in this field, so I'm afraid I can't answer your question in full. However, from what I can tell, the book does appear to relate to neuroplasticity in some way. It seems to focus on the idea that the brain is capable of adapting and changing over time, and that the environment can play a role in influencing this adaptation and change. This idea is certainly consistent with current research into neuroplasticity.

The notion of brain maps in the book may also be related to current research into brain function, as it suggests that certain areas of the brain are associated with certain functions. This is something that has been explored in more depth in recent years, such as through the use of imaging techniques like fMRI which allow researchers to map out the activity of different areas of the brain.

I'm not sure if the book generated a lot of experiments or not, but it certainly appears to form part of the foundation for current research into neuroplasticity and brain function.