Del Giacco Art Therapy is a cognitive art therapy process that focuses on stimulating the mental sensory systems and working to stabilize the nervous system and create new neural connections in the brain. This system was created by Maureen Del Giacco, Phd. after recovering from her own traumatic brain injury and is based on extensive research of neuro science concepts and observation of brain trauma victims and dementia patients and their recovery. Neuro-science has demonstrated that brain tissue is able to respond to damage or loss of neurons such as might happen in the event of a stroke, dementia or traumatic brain injury. Studies show that appropriate repetition of mental activities can stimulate the growth of new dendrites and refine some connections between neurons. If the "cell body" of the neuron is intact it can re-grow. If not nearby neurons can be "trained" to take over the role of the destroyed ones." (DAT course)