Neuroplasticity – The brains ability to adapt

The brain also compensates for damage that is to say imagine a part of your brain may malfunction due to an accident. The intact parts of your brain will now take over some of the functions from the damaged part. It does so by forming new connections between the neurons. Moreover, new connections between neurons can be formed through responding to new situations or through activity. These new neural connections enable new functions and improve the brains ability or in case of some accidents, they try to sustain the body’s functions. 

The brain constantly evolves

Individuals are constantly experiencing various situations that create different neural connections within the brain. Hence, the physical structure of the brain may alter because of new connections between neurons, which also bring about different emotions. By the way, this physical change or growth can be measured by MRI scans. 

No matter what we do, neurons get always stimulated and the brain improves. But depending on what we do, some neurons get stimulated even more intense which results in the strengthening of them and in the weakening of the others. The effect of stimulating and forming neurons is called neuroplasticity and as I mentioned before, it is caused by repetition, learning or damage. 

If, for instance, someone practices very hard to become an engineer, the brain will create stronger connections between neurons and the two brain hemispheres, with the purpose to increase the capability to cope with mathematical tasks. The good thing about that, our brains possess this ability throughout our whole life. Consequently, virtually any talent or intelligence can be created by training and practice. As you may assume, rationality and emotionality can be strengthened because it does work the same way.

Neuroplasticity and repetition

Let’s have a closer look to the emotional side of neuroplasticity. Repetitive behavior leads to the forming of new neural connections, but if you perhaps constantly repeat thinking bad about yourself, or for instance your job or life, the created links between the neurons will cause negative emotional outcomes that may lead to eating disorders or depression, which is to say it will end up in a physical outcome as well. However, the same can be applied the other way around. Just think about your hobby or something that will make you happy such as driving a super sports car. Even when you try to imagine these things in your head, it will stimulate neurons and it will create new neuronal connections that might lead to a positive emotional perception. For that reason, try always to imagine positive things that make you happy.