Have you ever wondered if our brain cells evolve or stay the same throughout
our lifetime?
Our brain carries the ability to restructure and adapt itself as a result of
experience, learning, and environmental changes. So yes, the brain cells
evolve over time as “the brain is plastic” i.e., modifiable.
Unlike computers, which consist of specific information that is stored
forever, the brain is designed to approach a wider amount of information which
occurs consciously and unconsciously and the brain allows us to adapt to that
information for a brief or long period of time depending upon the strength of
our brain cells.
Neuroplasticity is the capacity of our brain to modify itself as an effect of
environmental, behavioral, and neural changes and so our brain creates changes
when exposed to new information. In a way, “neuroplasticity is a way for
your brain in fine-tuning itself for efficiency”.
Neuro (Nervous System in the brain) + Plasticity (Moldable) = A moldable
brain
Can learning increase neuroplasticity?
When we learn something new, it harnesses the power of neuroplasticity.
Learning with repetition and intensity increases our brain’s potential
to form neurons and strengthen them for acting as the brain functions to
create new knowledge. For growing children especially, as there are several
new activities around them, the structure and function of their brains are
continuously modified. In adults, on the other hand, this ability of
neuroplasticity reduces with time due to brain aging.
How to increase neuroplasticity?
Anything that leads you to think analytically and practice can rewire the
brain. Some of the strategies include.
-
Using mnemonic devices: Chunking is one of the
popular ways to memorize information by dividing it into chunks, for
example, when we memorize phone numbers by creating a chunk of 4 or 5
digits. A second method is using Acronyms by simplifying
information into abbreviations, for example, MBA for Masters of Business
Administration or TED (talk) for Tell me, explain me, Describe to me
(talk). Acrostic is another important way to remember information
in order, for example, the meaning of the term RETIRE can be remembered as
Relax Entertain Travel
Indulge Read Enjoy.
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Memory tasks: Juggle objects, play Sudoku, learn a musical
instrument, learn to speak a new language, expand vocabulary, engage in
mental math, using non-dominant hand exercises. An example may include
writing and brushing your teeth with the opposite hand.
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Meditation: Practicing meditation in daily life not only acts as a
stress reliever and a type of
anxiety counselling , but also helps in increasing attention span and
helps in channelizing the thoughts which is the true state of meditation
and allows the individual to stay calm while tackling the pressure of
today’s lifestyle.
Benefits of increasing neuroplasticity:
- It enhances memory abilities
-
It protects against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and
Parkinson’s disease
- It helps to mitigate early aging of the brain
-
It makes your brain adapt to changes inflicted by damage to the brain as a
result of a stroke
Does increasing Neuroplasticity help in overcoming anxiety and depression?
As
depression leads the brain cells to weaken over time, it reduces
neuroplasticity. Research on neuroplasticity suggests that “your
day-to-day behaviors can have measurable effects on brain structure and
function” (Hellerstein, 2011). Increasing the neuroplasticity in the
brain can help treat both anxiety and depression with time and effort being utilized efficiently.
“Brain is a tricky and adaptable organ. For all the
‘neuroplasticity’ allowing our brains to reconfigure themselves
to the biases of our computers, we are just as neuroplastic in our ability
to eventually recover and adapt” - Douglas Rushkoff