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.
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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