We know that our minds and bodies are intricately connected, but can changing our minds improve our health?

Dr Norman Doidge is a Toronto-based psychiatrist and author of the international best-seller The Brain That Changes Itself. His work explores how the brain can change its own structure and function in response to mental experience – known as neuroplasticity — a discovery that has drastically changed our understanding of the brain and the mind.

In his new book, The Brain’s Way of Healing (Scribe Publications), Norman examines the human brain’s unique way of healing. He turns on its head the century-old belief that our brains are fixed and unregenerative – unable to recover from damage or illness. The book tells optimistic stories about the way people have alleviated years of chronic pain; those living on the autism spectrum have improved their lives; symptoms of multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and brain injuries have diminished, and how we may lower our risk of dementia.

At this unique event, Norman will share some of the stories in his book to show how it is possible to radically improve — and even cure — many conditions thought to be irreversible. Joining Norman will be science journalist Wendy Zukerman, who will explore with Norman how neuroplasticity might change the way that we understand the relationship between mind, brain and body.