Brain neuroplasticity: principles of cognitive development

The term "neuroplasticity" more and more often one can hear not only in the circles of psychologists and scientists, but also in everyday life. This term is used to refer to the ability of the brain to restore lost connections, as well as change as a result of accumulated experience.

Due to neuroplasticity, a person can "change the settings" brain to improve both physical and mental health, as well as the quality of your life. How to do it? Estet-portal.com will tell you about neuroplasticity, as well as how you can change your life for the better using this unique property of the brain.

Neuroplasticity – definition and its role in human life

Neuroplasticity – a general term for the ability of the brain to self-reorganize –  both physical and functional – throughout life under the influence of the external environment, behavior, thinking and emotions. The concept of brain change has replaced the previously held belief that the adult brain – a physiologically static organ that does not change after the completion of a period of development in childhood.

Of course, the brain is more plastic in the early years of life – this is true, as well as the fact that his abilities gradually decline as he ages. However, it is impossible to speak of a complete loss of plasticity and the ability of the brain to change.

Neuroplasticity allows the brain to adapt quickly and ensures the flow of learning processes in the brain, for example, when we learn to play a musical instrument, to speak a foreign language. Thanks to neuroplasticity, it is possible to recover from strokes, injuries, congenital anomalies, get out of depression and fight bad habits.

Neuroplasticity provides opportunities for improvement in almost every aspect of a person's life. The limits of this ability are not yet known.

The Fundamental Principles of Neuroplasticity: How to "Rewire" brain

Science confirms that through neuroplasticity, a person can achieve positive changes in life, but this is not as easy as the authors of pseudoscientific articles often claim. For example, neuroscientist Dr. Sarah McKay explains:

"Plasticity in adults is enhanced by the observance of special conditions that contribute to the "activation" of this property of the brain. Recent research has shown that, under certain circumstances, neuroplasticity allows the adult brain to develop. Despite age-related decline in some cognitive abilities, there are steps that can be taken to bring the mechanism of neuroplasticity into play.

Such measures include focusing attention, maintaining general well-being, and constant work.

Principles required for brain remodeling:

1. As a rule, changes are limited to situations in which the brain is set to change. If you are active, engaged, motivated, ready to take action, the brain releases the chemicals needed to trigger change. And vice versa, if you are inattentive, distracted, do not think about your actions, the neuroplasticity of the brain decreases.
2. The more effort you put in, the higher the level of motivation, the more significant the final result, the more the brain changes. If you are task-focused and really trying to master a skill for a reason that is important to you, the change will be dramatic.
3. Changes in the brain – the result of strengthening the connection between neurons. The more often you practice an action, the stronger the neural connections become to capture all elements of the experience (sensory information, movements, cognitive patterns).
4. The changes triggered by learning promote the interaction of brain cells, resulting in improved brain function. Brain cells can be compared to a team of people – the better they are organized, the better results can be achieved.
5. The brain also strengthens connections between groups of neurons when certain activities are performed regularly. This allows the brain to anticipate your actions and start a kind of "associative flow".
6. Initial changes are temporary. First, your brain registers the change, and then determines whether it needs to be translated into the category of permanent actions or not. A one-time action goes into the category of permanent if your brain considers the experienced experience significant or interesting enough, given the nature of the result – positive or negative.
7. The brain changes through internal repetition, involving processes that control changes resulting from interaction with the outside world. Sometimes it is enough to activate memories to activate neuroplasticity.
8. Memory guides and controls the lion's share of the learning process. As you master a new skill, your brain captures all the successes, trying to erase the failures from memory. Then, remembering the good, he makes the adjustments necessary to improve the processes in the future.
9. Each moment of learning provides the brain with an opportunity to stabilize – reduce potential "interference". This means that when the brain strengthens certain neural connections when you are learning new things, it weakens other neural connections not used at such times. In this way, negative changes in the brain are minimized as the brain concentrates on interesting and meaningful activities.
10. Brain neuroplasticity – double-edged sword: it can serve to initiate both positive and negative changes. The brain operates on an all-or-nothing basis. He can both improve his abilities and minimize them with equal ease – it all depends on you.

What conclusions can be drawn from the above principles? In order to improve your life on many levels by influencing the brain, you will have to work hard. The brain is able to develop if you direct it to the true path, otherwise, you will experience a deterioration in cognitive functions.

To use the neuroplasticity of the brain for good, it is necessary to constantly learn new things, master the skill of concentration and (as far as possible) positive thinking, be able to set goals correctly and not give up in the face of difficulties. Estet-portal.com wishes you success!