Chapter 1 - "Change Your Brain, Change Your Life: The Breakthrough Program for Conquering Anxiety, Depression, Obsessiveness, Anger, and Impulsiveness"

      The first chapter of the book is called “For Those Who Have Eyes, Let Them See: Images into the Mind.” The beginning of the chapter goes into detail on Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), which is used to make a comprehensive image of the brain. Essentially, a radioactive isotope is bound to a substance that is attracted to brain cells. This substance is injected into the person’s vein where it runs through the bloodstream and to the brain. Afterwards, a SPECT “gamma” camera rotates slowly around the patient’s head, and a supercomputer reconstructs brain activity levels from the images.

From this technique, it is possible to create an accurate and sophisticated brain map showing blood flow and metabolism. From tens of thousands of brain scans conducted over many years with different patients, doctors have been able to correlate certain brain maps with particular disorders or imbalances. Therefore, we now have the ability to identify patterns associated with brain function and different behaviors. The rest of the chapter details what is unique about this book. There are actual example images taken from SPECT scans of patients, some of whom have healthy brains and others who have different neurological disorders. For instance, with someone (in this case, a person named Ellen) who has suffered a stroke, that region of their brain shows up as a hole in the SPECT image (possibly due to the lack of blood flow in that region).

I found it very interesting that we can now use these SPECT scans to practically determine what conditions or deficiencies a person may or may not have. Surprisingly, these have been used as evidence in court cases, and I can now see the significance that they have in many peoples’ lives. However, the diagnosis must be accurate for it to be beneficial. Assuming this is true, I know that we have the potential to make better diagnoses involving certain disorders, especially those that have similar symptoms.

This book states that, “you’ll see scientific evidence that your anxiety, depression, anger, obsessiveness, or impulsiveness could be related to how specific structure in your brain work.” From this chapter, I can certify that this statement holds true. My prediction is that this may lead to the author discussing in general what certain behaviors correspond to in the brain. And eventually, how we can treat some of these behaviours and "change our lives."

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An Introduction - "Change Your Brain, Change Your Life: The Breakthrough Program for Conquering Anxiety, Depression, Obsessiveness, Anger, and Impulsiveness"

            I will be covering this book throughout the next month and beyond. I am privileged to be reading such a unique piece of work that sheds a new light on what we already know (and don’t know) about the brain and the way it functions in our everyday behavior. The book, Change Your Brain, Change Your Life is a New York Times bestseller, and the author, Dr. Daniel G. Amen, owns many clinics which operate using the techniques outlined in this book.

This beginning of this book provides a general outlook on the parts of our brain that govern our emotions and the parts of the brain that play important roles in our lives and in our behavior. The introduction of the book also opens with a bold statement which states that many of our problems are fixable and derive from the improper functioning of our brain. Such problems may be observed through a novel cerebral imaging technique known as SPECT imaging (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography). But what effect does this have for us? This question (I assume) will be answered later in the book.

The introduction also opens with a peculiar case involving Amen’s nine-year-old godson and nephew, Andrew. Unlike other boys his age, Andrew had been experiencing extreme bouts of depression, coupled with intense feelings of suicide and homicide. These feelings drove him mad, and at one point he assaulted a young girl without the intention of doing so. After using SPECT analysis, the author determined that he had been missing his left thalamus! In its place was a large cyst which needed to be surgically removed. After searching for many neurosurgeons, one finally agreed to operate, and within a few days, Andrew was finally back to behaving like a normal child.

I found this book quite engaging, to say the least. The opening paragraph provides an excellent segue into talking about the brain’s role in defining our individuality (after all, every person has a different brain). Additionally, I find it interesting that we can associate certain parts of the brain with certain behaviours. This association has led mental health experts to search for new ways to tackle the issues that many of us face. The book states that there are “brain prescriptions” available that can help change your brain and improve yourself as a person. I look forward to reading about these in coming chapters.  

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