What is neuroplasticity?
Neurons have many different cells, all specialized to communicate everything that happens in and around the body with the control center - the brain. Plasticity is a reference for the flexibility to change, which is why some neurologists will say, "the brain is plastic." Simply put, neuroplasticity means "your brain is adaptable."
Brain fitness
Everyone is familiar with the idea that if you exercise, your body, muscles and cardiovascular system will adapt, making you fitter and more able to exercise. In short, this is what your brain does when stimulated.
Whether you're processing sensory information, focusing on tasks, thinking deeply, using your imagination or even just dreaming - your brain is geared to constantly adapting to the demands placed on it. Believe it or not, there are a lot of changes that happen while reading this blog.
How neuroplasticity differs from physical fitness
Comparing the gains from physical training with cognitive training is a perfect analogy for understanding the physiology of plasticity. Although the effects are similar in principle, there are a few key ways in which they are very different. The biology of the brain and central nervous system are built to adapt more efficiently than muscle cells. This happens in surprisingly sophisticated ways.
4 outstanding ways to adapt the brain
- The brain can form new brain cells, like muscles - a process called neurogenesis Neurons can be structurally reconnected to generate new networks for greater connectivity. These networks are vast - there are about 100 trillion connections between neurons!
- Brain cells can improve the speed at which they can communicate with each other by increasing myelin, a layer of phospholipids that surrounds the axons of neurons. This increases their electrical efficiency, allowing neuron signals to travel faster between networks.
- Neurons that are not used over time can be disrupted by a process called synaptic cleavage, keeping brain resources optimized. In the first years of our lives, the brain goes through massive cutting processes, like Michelangelo sculpting a masterpiece from a piece of marble. A recent discovery has shown that this process takes place into old age.
- The general activity of the brain can be adapted by accelerating or slowing down brain waves. For example, being careful requires faster brain waves. Research shows that changes in brain waves can be sustained over time.