Brain that changed its mind

I'm currently reading ~ well, almost finished Norman Doidge's The Brain That Changes Itself. It's a compelling book that discusses neuroplasticity (brain malleability, or the ability of the brain to modify itself). The most that I've gleaned is that enriched environments and undertaking some new activity creates more neuronal connections in the brain, which results in great memory retention and instillation of old skills; that imagination is as useful to the brain as physically undertaking a task (imagining that you are exercising a part of your body has almost the same impact on brain real estate, neuronal connections and affect on muscle strength as actually doing that exercise); positive thinking is not just a New Age concept ~ it actually works in your brain to create new connections and therefore a new mind set, and that regardless of how stuck we are in our old behavioral patterns we can, with persistence, changes those habits. Meditation is a useful tool for healing and growing brain function. The maxim 'use it or loose it', applies to the brain as well as the body, so exercising your brain is an important activity of the day. Indeed, physical exercise can actually change your brain and ward off depression and anxiety and is essential if you want to retain memory. Of course, you can't change your brain or its neuronal connections unless you work at it everyday ~ repetition is the key! Think I'll end this blog here. I've been awake since 3.47 am this morning. Not sure what woke me up! Surely it could'nt have been the 3.3 quake in Adelaide that happened around about that time. My body can't be that sensitive - or is it?!