Quick Navigation Subscribe and listen to the podcast on your favourite appShow NotesTimestampsLinksOther ResourcesCheck out some other recent episodesComments about this episode Subscribe and listen to the podcast on your favourite appShow NotesWhy are we talking about neuroplasticity in regards to Fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, POTS & MCS?What is neuroplasticity?How does neuroplasticity occur?How can we best affect neuroplasticity for recovery from ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia, POTS & MCS? These are some of the questions we answer in this episode of Wisdom from the Other Side as well as central sensitisation and the benefits of taking a wider approach to neuroplasticity.TimestampsIntroduction0:00:00Podcast Disclaimer0:02:53Starting the discussion - sweating through the podcast 0:03:34Why are we talking about neuroplasticity in regards to Fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, POTS and MCS?0:04:30What is neuroplasticity? What are specific ways in which neuroplasticity can occur? 0:05:57Does neuroplasticity only occur in children?0:08:43Dan tells about the remarkable abilities neuroplasticity can lead to.0:12:30Claudia asks about physical changes between meditators and non-meditators.0:14:14Does neuroplasticity imply that the illness is psychological in nature?0:18:43How can chronically ill people progress with neuroplasticity when they are limited physically? Should we push?0:23:06So does the illness limit neuroplasticity from occurring? How specifically does neuroplasticity occur? (perhaps surprising to many)0:26:32How other activities benefit positive neuroplasticity - the dopamine connection.0:34:01Need to take a wider approach to brain-training - wider approach including physical approach0:37:58Will you explain how ANS dysfunction can lead to central sensitisation?0:39:44Dan talks about how the program was developed for other symptoms and then the overlap for pain.0:42:35Dan answers how central sensitisation occurs in more detail0:45:27Claudia confirms about how central sensitisation leads to reduced pain threshold & Dan comments on the MCS connection0:48:00Dan starts to summarise closing message about the importance of focus0:50:25Discussion around limitations on affecting neuroplasticity0:52:34LinksLuders E, Toga AW, Lepore N, Gaser C. The underlying anatomical correlates of long-term meditation: larger hippocampal and frontal volumes of gray matter. - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19280691/ Lazar, S. W., Kerr, C. E., Wasserman, R. H., Gray, J. R., Greve, D. N., Treadway, M. T., McGarvey, M., Quinn, B. T., Dusek, J. A., Benson, H., Rauch, S. L., Moore, C. I., & Fischl, B. (2005). Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1361002/Hölzel, B. K., Carmody, J., Vangel, M., Congleton, C., Yerramsetti, S. M., Gard, T., & Lazar, S. W. (2011). Mindfulness practice leads to increases in regional brain gray matter density - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3004979/Lyon P, Cohen M, Quintner J. An evolutionary stress-response hypothesis for chronic widespread pain (fibromyalgia syndrome) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21692974/Other ResourcesCFS Unravelled is the book that started it all, outlining the explanation for the pathogenesis of ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia, POTS, MCS and related syndromes and explaining how recovery is possible.Learn more HERE.All my email subscribers receive additional FREE resources like my book Discover Hope. So consider subscribing and reading the book to rediscover hope.To learn how other people recover, listen to the recovery interviews!If you would like to learn more about the ANS REWIRE program, check out the 4 free intro lessons or visit the ANS REWIRE website.Check out some other recent episodes@media (min-width: 300px){[data-css="tve-u-60b03eb86353b2"].tcb-post-list #post-12842 [data-css="tve-u-60b03eb86353c8"]{background-image: url("https://cfsunravelled.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wisdom-Episode-4-300x300.jpg") !important;}[data-css="tve-u-60b03eb86353b2"].tcb-post-list #post-12842 [data-css="tve-u-60b03eb86353d6"]:hover [data-css="tve-u-60b03eb86353c8"]{background-image: linear-gradient(rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.08), rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.08)), url("https://cfsunravelled.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wisdom-Episode-4.jpg") !important;}} Episode 4: Dr Jacob Teitelbaum, world leading MECFS Fibromyalgia POTS physician, shares his research and experienceEpisode 4: Dr Jacob Teitelbaum, world leading MECFS Fibromyalgia POTS physician, shares his research and experience@media (min-width: 300px){[data-css="tve-u-60b03eb86353b2"].tcb-post-list #post-13199 [data-css="tve-u-60b03eb86353c8"]{background-image: url("https://cfsunravelled.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Podcast-episode-13-1-300x300.jpg") !important;}[data-css="tve-u-60b03eb86353b2"].tcb-post-list #post-13199 [data-css="tve-u-60b03eb86353d6"]:hover [data-css="tve-u-60b03eb86353c8"]{background-image: linear-gradient(rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.08), rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.08)), url("https://cfsunravelled.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Podcast-episode-13-1-1024x1024.jpg") !important;}} Episode 13: Snippet – Should you change program, coach or practitioner to help you recover from CFS/Fibromyalgia/POTS/MCS?Episode 13: Snippet – Should you change program, coach or practitioner to help you recover from CFS/Fibromyalgia/POTS/MCS?@media (min-width: 300px){[data-css="tve-u-60b03eb86353b2"].tcb-post-list #post-12656 [data-css="tve-u-60b03eb86353c8"]{background-image: url("https://cfsunravelled.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wisdom-Episode-1-300x300.jpg") !important;}[data-css="tve-u-60b03eb86353b2"].tcb-post-list #post-12656 [data-css="tve-u-60b03eb86353d6"]:hover [data-css="tve-u-60b03eb86353c8"]{background-image: linear-gradient(rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.08), rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.08)), url("https://cfsunravelled.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wisdom-Episode-1.jpg") !important;}} Episode 1: How to cope and deal with the injustice of invisible illness including chronic illness like Fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, POTS and MCSEpisode 1: How to cope and deal with the injustice of invisible illness including chronic illness like Fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, POTS and MCS@media (min-width: 300px){[data-css="tve-u-60b03eb86353b2"].tcb-post-list #post-13301 [data-css="tve-u-60b03eb86353c8"]{background-image: url("https://cfsunravelled.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Podcast-episode-16-1-300x300.jpg") !important;}[data-css="tve-u-60b03eb86353b2"].tcb-post-list #post-13301 [data-css="tve-u-60b03eb86353d6"]:hover [data-css="tve-u-60b03eb86353c8"]{background-image: linear-gradient(rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.08), rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.08)), url("https://cfsunravelled.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Podcast-episode-16-1.jpg") !important;}} Episode 16: Fibromyalgia Remission Story with RachelEpisode 16: Fibromyalgia Remission Story with Rachel You can see the full list of episodes HERE.Comments about this episode