7 Books That Will Make You Think Differently About Your Brain

“If the human brain were a computer, it could perform 38 thousand trillion operations per second. The world’s most powerful supercomputer, BlueGene, can manage only .002% of that.”

The brain is by far the most complex organ-system in the human body. Not only is the brain responsible for every multitude of cognitive tasks that we perform, it also acts as the governor over every other organ and system in the body. Literally every action, voluntary and involuntary, from the movement of our muscles to the beating of the heart, to digestive processes, immune function and the basic act of breathing — all are initiated and regulated directly by the brain.

It’s no wonder that this all-important organ has been studied so intensely for thousands of years and across hundreds of cultures. But it wasn’t until this century that science could begin to explain just how intricate the brain truly is. Once thought to be fixed in its structural and functional capabilities, the new science of neuroplasticity now teaches us that the brain is highly dynamic and capable of both structure (hardware) changes (.e.g. growth of new dendritic branches) as well as functional (software) changes (.e.g formation of new synaptic connections).

“Neuroplasticity can be observed at multiple scales, from microscopic changes in individual neurons to larger-scale changes such as cortical remapping in response to injury.” — Characterizing Brain Plasticity

Ushered in with this new research should come tremendous hope and optimism that this master organ now proves virtually limitless in its capacity for healing and improvement. — Just think, if the brain is capable of such change, imagine what’s possible for the body over which it presides?

“Behavior, environmental stimuli, thought, and emotions may also cause neuroplastic change through activity-dependent plasticity, which has significant implications for healthy development, learning, memory, and recovery from brain damage.” — Timothy A. Keller

The following are 7 mind-bending (or should we say, brain altering?) books on the new science of brain research:

1. The Brain that Changes Itself

“Neurons that fire together, wire together” — This now famous quote and many more like it, is brought to us by Dr. Norman Doidge, MD in this game-changing book. Through the inclusion of new scientific research combined with jaw-dropping case studies of patient recovery stories, Doidge demonstrates the undeniable potential that the brain has and can now be understood when looking through the lense of neuroplasticity. From a stroke patient who learns to speak again, to a gunshot wound victim who successfully trained a new part of the brain to perform motor functions previously thought to be restricted to the section that had been damaged, to a woman born with half a brain that rewires itself to function as a whole brain — If these stories do not change the way you think about the very organ that does your thinking, it’s safe to say that nothing will.

What it tells us about the brain — Nothing is fixed. Neuroplasticity provides scientific evidence that the brain has a capacity for healing, changing and adaptation that is beyond all previous conceptions.

2. The Biology of Belief

If you’re reading this post and have an interest in health than you’ve probably had some notion, however vague, that our thoughts and beliefs can impact us physically. But do you really understand how? Cell-biologist Dr. Bruce Lipton may be among the first scientist capable of truly explaining it to us. In his book, The Biology of Belief, Dr. Lipton reveals cutting edge research in the field of epigenetics that enables us to trace the pathology from thoughts in the brain down to physiological and even genetic changes in the human body. If you’ve ever been curious to explore the far-reaching impacts of thoughts and how this knowledge can be applied as a technology to improve your wellbeing, this book is a must-read.

What it tells us about the brain — Thoughts create things. Epigenetics and quantum physics now reveal how thoughts lead to changes in physiology and even genetic expression.

3. Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself

For anyone who’s ever attempted to make significant changes to their life and found it difficult or impossible to break free from old patterns, this book is required reading. Dr. Joe Dispenza draws on such fields as neuroscience, brain chemistry, physics and behavior change to provide us with a blueprint for ultimate transformation. Through a combination of emerging research, case studies, and personal experience, Dr. Dispenza explains exactly why change can be so difficult. He explains the vicious cycle that occurs when our brains are exposed to the same patterns, same choices, same activities, and same thoughts day after day. And lays out all the instructions needed to dissolve this cycle and consciously create patterns of thought and action that can lead to an experience of life which is more positive and beneficial.

What it tells us about the brain — Repetitive patterns of action form neural circuits in the brain that determine our experience of life. New neural circuits can be made by exposing yourself to new patterns of action and thought.

4. The Holographic Universe

How is it that eerily similar ideas about how to use tools or explain human origins can emerge simultaneously in different parts of the globe? Did every idea that has ever entered our brain really originate there? Or did we merely access it by tapping into a greater database of information? University of London physicist David Bohm, a protege of Einstein and one of the world’s most respected quantum physicists, and Stanford neurophysiologist Karl Pribram believe the latter to be the case. — The Holographic Universe raises (and answers) some of the most fascinating questions one can conceive. Like the discovery that the earth revolves around the sun, many great mysteries apparently fall into place when we consider that our brains and minds may not be at the center of all human creation.

What it tells us about the brain — We should think of the brain as a receiver device that connects to the internet. It does not contain the internet itself.

5. Lights Out: Sleep, Sugar and Survival

Most attempts to learn more about a thing such as the human brain cause us to look deeper into the object we wish to learn about. T.S. Wiley offers us a highly refreshing and important view which reminds us that we cannot fully understand something without understanding the environment in which it functions. Indeed, laboratory neuroscience can only take us so far. But if we don’t know how the brain works inside the human body, and how it is affected by that person’s behavior, dietary and sleep habits, then we really don’t understand much. ‘Lights Out’ shines the spotlight on how environmental factors are impacting our brain and overall health. It also offers simple solutions to widespread problems such as how to mitigate the negative impact of exposure to artificial lights which would otherwise damage our sleep cycles. This book is chalked full of insightful science and ways that it can be applied to ensure we live well in the modern world.

What it tells us about the brain — The health, formation, and function of our brains are largely determined by our environment. We must consider the context in which the brain operates in order to better understand the brain itself and how to better care for it.

6. Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain

If brain health and function are inseparable from the environment, then the connection between our brains and physical movement is equally as important. Dr. John J. Ratey’s book Spark explores the relationship between exercise and the brain. It talks about the fitness program in Naperville, Illinois, correlated with that school districts 19k children ranking first in the world for science test scores. It goes on to offer an abundance of evidence, both anecdotal and neuroscience-based, to support the undeniable connection between brain and body and how, through exercise, the body can dramatically improve the function of the brain. Through numerous case studies, Dr. Ratey shows us how everything from depression, to ADD to addiction to Alzheimer’s can be improved if not completely avoided, through the inclusion of regular exercise.

What it tells us about the brain — If the brain-boosting benefits of exercise came in pill form, all doctors would be mandated to prescribe it.

7. The Power of Habit

Have you ever wondered why bad habits can be so difficult to break? What about whether there is some formula for picking up new beneficial ones, like flossing your teeth or exercise? (hint: there is). How would your life change if you could simply delete unwanted habits and set up a system to install those you do want? How would your brain change as a result of all this? Author Charles Duhigg takes us on a deep dive in The Power of Habit to expose how neuroscientists, doctors, patients, CEOs, and everyday people use rituals and routines to get the results they want.

What it tells us about the brain — Habits are inseparable from the brain that forms them. Changing your habits will change your brain.