#2 Question on how neuroplasticity works

“I was wondering if you could explain how neuroplasticity works”

Neuroplasticity or plasticity is about neural pathways and our ability to create new ones. Essentially, the idea that the brain was rigid and unable to change is untrue. Our brain is like plastic and can change and learn new things easily.

Information creates a neural pathway through the brain when it travels from one neuron to the next. When we learn new information, new pathways begin to form. The more we repeat the information, the stronger those pathways become, the less we repeat, the weaker they become and eventually ‘die’ - this is called synaptic pruning.

-Plasticity occurs throughout your life, but is more frequent during childhood.

-Information can be anything from learning to ride a bike/a language, to changing our mindset (mindfulness).

There’s loads of evidence to support it, for example:

1) People who have an area of expertise - London taxi drivers have to pass a knowledge test which requires them to learn 25,000 street names in a 6 mile radius, including the locations of tubes, hospitals etc.

2) People who recover from trauma injuries (Car accidents/stroke victims) are able to return to a fully functioning lifestyle after their trauma. The brain would rewire itself and rebuild neural pathways again (Learning how to walk again).