The brain’s ability to change and adapt according to experiences
is called brain plasticity and neuroplasticity.
What does the term neuroplasticity means? The term ‘Neuro’ refers to neurons, the nerve
cell that are the basic structural and functional unit of brain and nervous system
and the plasticity refers to brain’s malleability .The ability of a brain to
change itself according to experiences is called Neuroplasticity.
The brain make new connection of neuron, and decline
useless neuron. The brain change its structure just like a plastic. When we
apply pressure or force on plastic, the plastic change its shape. Similarly
brain also change its structure when we focus on same thing again and again.
What is Neuroplasticity?
Types of Neuroplasticity:
There are two types of brain plasticity and
Neuroplasticity. Structural plasticity and functional plasticity.
Structural plasticity:
The brain ability to change its physical structure and
shape as a result of experiences and learning is known as structural
plasticity.
Functional Plasticity:
The ability of brain to change its functions is called
Functional plasticity. It is the special ability of brain that brain can move
its functions from damage area of brain to other undamaged area.
Benefits of Neuroplasticity:
There are so many benefits of brain plasticity and
Neuroplasticity. It allows your brain to adapt and change which help to promote
learning.
- · It help us to learn new things and skills.
- · It enhance our existing cognitive capabilities.
- · It help us to recovers from traumatic brain injuries and stoke.
- · It help to improve our brain fitness.
- · It strengthened area of brain, where some functions are decline or loss.
How Brain Plasticity Works:
The first few years of child’s life are a time of rapid
brain development and growth. At birth, every neuron in the cerebrum has at
least 2,500 synapses, by the age of 3 year this numbers has been grown up to
15,000 synapses per neuron. The average adult has half numbers of synapses.
Why? Because as we gain new experiences and learn new skills, some of our connection
are strengthened while the others are eliminate. This processes is known as
synaptic pruning.
Neuron that are mostly use, make strong connections. While
the neuron that are rarely or never used eventually die. By developing new
connection and decline weak ones, our brain able to adapt to changing
environment.
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Characteristics of Brain Plasticity:
Our age and environment play an important in brain
plasticity and neuroplasticity. Brain plasticity occur throughout the life, but
most of changes occur at specific age. In general, most of our brain develop at
early years of life. Immature brain develop itself without any experience. But
young brain are very sensitive and responsive to experience than much older
brain. But this doesn’t means that adult brain are not able to change and
adapt.
Our genetic markup and hereditary factors affect our brain
and behaviors. The interaction between environment and genetics also play a
role in shaping brain plasticity.
Neuroplasticity is an ongoing process:
Brain plasticity is an ongoing process and it occur
throughout the life. Some people believe that brain development stopped after
birth. Brain develop new cells, neurons including glial and vascular cell. It
occur as a result of learning experiences, memory formation or as a result of
damage to the brain.
While some people
believe that brain become fixed after certain age. But newer research has
revealed brain never stop changing in response to learning and experiences.
When brain area damage due to stroke and traumatic brain
injuries, a new and healthy part of brain may take over these functions and
abilities can be restored.
Brain plasticity has some limitations:
The brain is not infinitely malleable. Some part of brain,
which are responsible for movement, language, language, speech and cognition
cannot take over these functions. Damage in these part of brain cannot take
functions of these area.
How to Improve Neuroplasticity:
The brain plasticity
and neuroplasticity work on “use it or loss it” principal. If you use specific
part of brain, it create new connection in this part while part of brain which
we use rarely or never used loss its functions. There are some things that help
encourage your brain to adapt and change. You can utilize neuroplasticity in a
beneficial ways.
Enriching your Environment:
Learning environment that offers opportunities for focused
attention has positive change in the brain plasticity. It is very important
during childhood but it is also in adulthood. Here is a thing that you can try
includes;
- · Learning a new language.
- · Learning how to play an instrument.
- · Travelling and exploring new places.
- · Creating Art.
- · Reading.
Getting plenty of Rest:
Research has shown that better sleep plays an important
role in dendrites growth. It strengthened our brain connection and develop new
neurons. Better sleep also plays an important role in physical and mental health.
It improves our memory and attention.
Exercise:
History and research:
Early researchers believe that brain was fixed while the
modern research indicate that brain is more flexible. Thanks to modern
technology that make it easy to study the structure and functions of brain
without surgery.
Early research:
Until the 1960, researcher believe that change in brain occur
only in infancy and our brain structure is permanent. Way back to 1890, Similar
ideas was published in a book “the principal of psychology” that brain develop through
experiences but this idea was largely ignored for many years.
Modern theories:
In the 1920, Researcher and psychologist Karl Lashley found
evidence of changes in neural pathway of rhesus monkey. By the 1960, Researcher
begin to explore and research on this topic. Modern research has also found
evidence that brain is able to rewire itself from damage.
Plasticity Can cause Problems:
Brain changes are often seen as improvements. In some
cases, the brain might be influenced by psychoactive substances or pathological
conditions that lead to detrimental effect on brain and behavior.
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