Brain plasticity-based “ cognitive training ” elevates BDNF

Serum BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophin factor) has been repeatedly shown to be lower than normal in schizophrenic, bipolar and depressed patient populations. Moreover, the severity of manias or depression have been shown to be inversely correlated with serum BDNF. This key brain trophic factor plays a complicated panoply of roles in brain development, in maintaining the metabolic status and transmitter production in neuronal populations, in protecting neuron populations, and in enabling brain plasticity processes. It is specifically released as a function of cortical or subcortical nucleus activity levels. At least in the cortex, its release is a function of the level of coordination of neural activities. In a presentation at the International Congress on Schizophrenia Research in Colorado Springs, a research colleague Sophia Vinogradov (Department of Psychiatry, UCSF) reported an approximately 20% elevation of BDNF in patients that were intensively trained with an experimental Posit Science brain plasticity-based training program designed to improve the perceptual, cognitive and executive control performance abilities of chronic schizophrenics. BDNF increases were directly correlated with both patients’ improvements in speed of processing, and their overall improvements recorded in cognitive assessments (MATRICS Battery). Interestingly, control subjects who worked at progressive, highly-engaging video games had a temporary, more modest BDNF elevation, but by the end of...
Source: On the Brain by Dr. Michael Merzenich, Ph.D. - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Tags: Aging and the Brain Brain Fitness Brain Trauma, Injury Cognitive impairments Posit Science Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, et alia Source Type: blogs