I would like to be able to reopen my brain's critical period of synaptic plasticity for just a short period of time, perform a specific learning task, and then restore it to normal (or not?). Something like taking an autism pill, if you like.
So before even going further, can anyone point me in a sensible direction for this enquiry?
I think studying autism may hold the key to this; I've gotten to know some high functioning autistics / borderline autistics, and what they can do is amazing.
I'm currently reading through a superb article: Autism: A “Critical Period” Disorder? by Jocelyn J. LeBlanc and Michela Fagiolini
http://www.hindawi.c...np/2011/921680/
Although it is centred around autism, the first part is purely about the critical period of plasticity, and documents different ways to extend it. I would like to post sections here (annotated by myself), in the hope that the community may connect the various described critical-period-extension-mechanisms with their relevant nootropic compounds.
The paper says that an animal goes through a critical learning phase at the start of its life, in order to create low-level circuits. Then this critical phase is turned off, so that these low-level circuits are stabilised/fixed, and higher-level circuits can make reliable use of them.
It points out that in autistic individuals, this mechanism doesn't kick in. And so they retain low-level plasticity, at the expense of not being able to develop high-level circuits. This simultaneously accounts for their Savant capabilities, and higher-functioning (e.g. emotional) disabilities.
So before even going further, can anyone point me in a sensible direction for this enquiry?
I think studying autism may hold the key to this; I've gotten to know some high functioning autistics / borderline autistics, and what they can do is amazing.
I'm currently reading through a superb article: Autism: A “Critical Period” Disorder? by Jocelyn J. LeBlanc and Michela Fagiolini
http://www.hindawi.c...np/2011/921680/
Although it is centred around autism, the first part is purely about the critical period of plasticity, and documents different ways to extend it. I would like to post sections here (annotated by myself), in the hope that the community may connect the various described critical-period-extension-mechanisms with their relevant nootropic compounds.
The paper says that an animal goes through a critical learning phase at the start of its life, in order to create low-level circuits. Then this critical phase is turned off, so that these low-level circuits are stabilised/fixed, and higher-level circuits can make reliable use of them.
It points out that in autistic individuals, this mechanism doesn't kick in. And so they retain low-level plasticity, at the expense of not being able to develop high-level circuits. This simultaneously accounts for their Savant capabilities, and higher-functioning (e.g. emotional) disabilities.
