What Neurological Remodeling Phrase Does Siegel Employ?

Dr. Dan Siegel discusses the process of brain remodeling during adolescence, which involves the purposeful, genetically governed, and experientially shaped destruction of existing neurons. This process is part of the neuroplasticity of the brain, which enables the brain to adapt to new experiences and develop new connections.

In his book Brainstorm, Dr. Siegel debunks myths about the teenage brain and “raging hormones”, focusing on the changes and remodeling that occur in the second dozen years of life. He explains that the brain engages in a remodeling process similar to pruning, shedding leaves and branches to specialize in certain areas. This specialization, termed as “specializing”, allows adolescents to explore and devote their energy to what truly impassions them.

Siegel uses the acronym “ESSENCE” to describe the four main aspects of the teenage brain: pruning, myelination, and specialized areas. For adolescents, this means that the pruning down of existing neurons and the laying down of myelin sheaths connecting the remaining linked neurons are the result of the brain’s remodeling.

Mental Time Travel, a term used by experimental psychologist and cognitive neuroscientist Endel Tulving, is another term used to describe the innovative integration of brain science with psychotherapy. In his book Brainstorm, Dr. Siegel emphasizes the importance of understanding the changes and remodeling of the brain during this challenging developmental period in children’s lives.