Neuroplasticity: What it is, Why it Matters and What You Should Know

The power our brain has to learn new things and adapt to new situations is endlessly amazing. If you have ever heard stories about people who suffered accidents or a stroke or any other event that impacted brain functions and then recovered via therapy, you have seen neuroplasticity in action.

People have lost motor functions, injured parts of the brain, lost external senses (such as smell, hearing, touch…) and recovered them by creating new pathways in the brain to restore these abilities.

What is neuroplasticity

It is the ability of the brain to create new neural pathways and change how its circuits are wired when a need for it arises. It does so without our interference, but we can also create situations to increase our neuroplasticity activity, such as in the recovery therapies mentioned above.

But what does that mean in practical terms? What neuroplasticity means to us is that not only we are given a new chance to recover lost/injured senses via the development of new pathways through therapy, but also that healthy individuals can influence it – pretty much “brain hack” it – by choosing specific learning activities and effectively improve their intelligence.

Why is neuroplasticity important

For the longest time, it was believed that the brain was born with a definite amount of brain cells and that the connections between them (pathways), once made, were unchangeable. We have discovered recently that not only these connections can change but also that the brain is capable of creating new neurons throughout life (a process known as neurogenesis).

Other benefits of intentionally improving our neuroplasticity are to delay neurodegenerative diseases that comes with aging (such as Alzheimer’s disease), enhance cognitive skills and improve general wellbeing and mood.

Can age impact neuroplasticity?

The reason this is great news is that, no matter how old you are, you are able to keep developing and improving yourself and learning new things. You can even improve your memory, and become potentially healthier.

It does not mean, though, that it will be as easy as in your formative years. When we are kids we are still developing brand new connections, while as we age, that ability naturally decreases. Therefore, the old adage “I’m too old to learn this” or “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” no longer apply.

Can neuroplasticity improve wellbeing?

It is also believed that brain plasticity (another term for it) can help improve your mental health. By doing positive affirmations exercises, you can rewire your brain and promote increased levels of happiness. We talk about how positive affirmations work here.

What can you do to improve your neuroplasticity

There are several ways you can actively engage in activities that will promote neuroplasticity. Not all new learnings are created equal, and not all necessarily promote neuroplasticity. Below are 5 ways that do:

• Learning music

Even listening to music has positive brain impacts. However, this scientific article published in 2010 has shown that long-term musical study results in structural and functional cerebral neuroplastic processes.

• Learning a new language

This scientific article points that “second language experience-induced brain changes, including increased gray matter (GM) density and white matter (WM) integrity” occur in second language learning or training. So, if you are considering becoming bilingual, go for it.

• Exercising

Many studies support the benefits of physical exercising to our brain and its effects on neuroplasticity. That said, if you want to have and keep a healthy brain, you definitely should be paying attention to maintaining an aerobic and resistance exercise routine.

• Traveling

Going to new places and getting in touch with different surroundings and culture are a natural stimulant to the brain. Consequently, traveling positively impacts neuroplasticity while you are learning and adapting to foreign circumstances. If you already enjoyed traveling, now you know that besides being a pleasurable experience it is also good for your brain health!

• Breaking old habits and experiencing new things

Have you ever been to an opera? Taken a helicopter ride? Tried water-coloring? Diving? Horseback riding? If you can think of a new activity you’ve never engaged on before that you find interesting, try it on! You may find something you love, but even if you don’t, getting our of your routine and trying something completely new will be beneficial to your brain plasticity.

• Proper nutrition and sleep

Doing all of the above but not having a healthy sleep routine and eating things that nourishes your brain to support its functions won’t be of much help. Just as any organ in your body, lack of proper sleep and of proper nutrition negatively impacts your brain function.

What food should I eat to nourish my brain?

There is a lot of literature about what foods/substances are beneficial to the brain. Also, there is huge industry selling supplements claiming to be as good, but here’s a quick list:

• magnesium
• choline
• fish (for the omega 3s)
• turmeric
• blueberries (rich in flavonoids)

Neuroplasticity exercises

Some activities may promote neuroplasticity – aside from what we mentioned above, you could try the following:

• using your non-dominant hand for actions you’d usually use your dominant hand for
• reading a fiction book
• learning new words
• dancing
• practicing gratitude
• meditating

Neuroplasticity and Growth Mindset

Growth mindset is a concept that supports we all can continuously improve and learn new things and become better individuals. This scientific article explains that teaching the concept of neuroplasticity to induce a growth mindset had a positive effect on motivation, achievement, and brain activity.

Neuroplasticity limitations

Does this mean the human brain has an unlimited capacity of improving and healing itself? Unfortunately, no – otherwise, no brain injuries would be permanent. Although in the last couple of decades many studies have found the brain to have a lot more power than previously believed, it does not mean neuroplasticity can achieve anything we propose it to.

Still, we can be very grateful for each new discovery about this amazing resource – our brains.

Conclusion

Our brains have a lot more power than we believed. Recent scientific studies revealed the wonders of how neural plasticity works. We will surely keep learning about its capacity for reinventing us and our lives in the decades to come. For now, use the key learnings shown here to improve your brain power and keep it healthy as you age.

In other words, we have never known more about our brains than we do today. This knowledge will surely only keep growing and empowering us to harness the power of our minds to live better, happier, healthier and more fulfilled lives.

And this is what Blissful Road is all about: neuroplasticity for the win!