While a deeper understanding of neuro-plasticity is extremely relevant for people who have suffered from a stroke or other traumatic brain injury, what has piqued my interest most is its application for those of us whose brains already work perfectly well.

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In complex cases where the diagnosis is unclear or there is a suspicion of coexisting conditions, especially if there is a history of head injury or other brain trauma, a SPECT scan can help.

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The leading nursing schools and nursing organizations have committed to educate current and future nurses on how to recognize and treat post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, depression and other combat-related issues.

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Soon after, the VA declared Mr. Welch 100% disabled from the brain injury, with additional damage from the PTSD and other injuries.

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Both findings, Dr. Roses argues, suggest that people born with an E-4 gene suffer more from poor "housekeeping" than other people and thus are less able to stand the stress of brain injury, whether from an accident or a hemorrhage.

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That means that in rare cases, a brain injury could damage one of these abilities more than the other, leaving the patient more fluent on the phone than in person, Thompson said.

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It is thought that this early injury might somehow interfere with the proper development or wiring of other brain regions resulting in the behavioural symptoms of autism.

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