In contemplating the the different phases of my injury, I have come up with another insight. This has to do with the application of the CCN, or the Central Control Network.
In my attempt to gain understanding of my injury, and how the brain functions, I discovered that a key aspect of brain injury rehabilitation revolves around the need for the victim to learn to activate the CCN. Placing this brain function under volitional control serves as a means to address chronic cognitive deficits.
My lay understanding is that brain function in homo sapiens sapiens is distinguished from other primates by virtue of the fact that the human cortex contains a Central Control Network. This CCN provides an “over-ride function” that is not known to exist in other species. Volitional application of the over-ride function is the characteristic that enables an individual to discount the threat to personal safety and rush into a burning building to save lives. Any structure fire, of any size, is a frightening event. Gaining experience of major fires only increases ones respect for the risk associated with the fire. A trained fire-fighter must activate the CCN to counter the normal human impulse to flee from the threat to life. Even when the first-responder is acutely aware of the risk to her own survival, she is able to moderate all feelings of fear and obtain normal function under conditions of extreme duress.
The same applies when the member of a military force willingly throws himself upon a live grenade in order to save the lives of fellow unit members. The act of self-sacrifice is not known to be present in other species. To act in this way requires the individual overcome an extremely strong innate demand for self-preservation. Again, this behaviour is understood as the volitional engagement of the CCN as a means to enable an action which runs counter to all instincts for self-survival.
As I learned more about rehabilitation outcomes, I discovered that brain injury typically results in a set of chronic cognitive deficits. To achieve a level of function similar to the pre-injury state, the victim must learn to activate the CCN function on a regular daily basis. CCN functions are utilized as a means to compensate for other impaired brain functions.
My interpretation of my phased recovery is that I first utilized the CCN during Phase 2 when making my initial submission to the insurance company. This huge effort focused on preparation of a document detailing the circumstance of the injury, coupled with supporting medical reports.
At the suggestion of Dr H, I reactivated this blog as a Phase 4 therapeutic activity. The blog posts improved as I gained the learned ability to apply CCN functions as a regular aspect of the activity of writing. When creating the claim submission I was forced to apply CCN functions in an acute manner to creation of a specific critical document. With the blog, I learned to apply the CCN on an ongoing regular basis to all of my writing activity.
The recent Phase 5 improvement in my capabilities is, I suspect, due primarily to the fact that I have learned to activate CCN functions in aspects of daily life other than writing. My hunch is that the recent use of mobile phone apps delivered improved feedback. This evidence assisted me in pushing the performance envelope when out walking with a consequent increase in therapeutic benefit. When I found myself six miles from home in the wilds of the Gatineau with a painful ankle, or blistered feet, I had no choice but to utilize the CCN to force myself to complete the long march home. In other words, I learned to apply the CCN in settings outside of text creation. I learned how to activate and apply the CCN in the routine aspects of daily life.