Unleashing the Power of Your Brain: A Beginner's Guide to Neuroplasticity
Have you ever heard the phrase "You can't teach and old dog new tricks"? Older neuroscience research had stated that our brains stopped growing around age 25. This was based on a study that looked at rodents living in a cage; an environment that provided no variety or change.
More recent neuroresearch shows that our brain can keep growing, something that is referred to as neuroplasticity – which is the incredible ability of our brains to change and adapt throughout our lives.
What is Neuroplasticity? Neuroplasticity, simply put, is the brain's remarkable capacity to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections. It's the brain's way of adapting to new experiences, learning, and recovering from injuries. Imagine your brain as a flexible and dynamic organ, constantly reshaping itself based on the activities and information it encounters.
The Three Types of Neuroplasticity:
Structural Plasticity: This involves physical changes in the brain's structure. It includes the formation of new synapses (connections between neurons) and the remodeling of existing ones. Think of it as the brain's way of building and renovating its communication pathways.
Functional Plasticity: Functional changes occur when different areas of the brain take over the functions of damaged regions. For example, if one part of the brain responsible for motor skills is injured, another area might step in to compensate. It's like a backup team ensuring that essential functions are not lost.
Neurochemical Plasticity: This refers to changes in the production and release of neurotransmitters – the chemical messengers that transmit signals between neurons. Neurochemical plasticity allows the brain to regulate its chemical balance, influencing mood, behavior, and overall cognitive function.
How Does Neuroplasticity Work? Imagine your brain as a dense forest of trees, with each tree representing a neuron. When you learn something new or engage in a particular activity, it's like forging a new path through the forest. Initially, the path might be overgrown and challenging to navigate, but with repetition and practice, it becomes a well-trodden trail.
Neuroplasticity is fueled by a process called synaptic pruning, where the brain strengthens important connections and eliminates unnecessary ones. It's like trimming the branches of the trees to make the paths more efficient. The more you repeat an activity or reinforce a thought, the more robust the neural pathways associated with it become.
So, by this point you are probably curious on how you can change and grow your brain. There are actually 3 simple things that you can do.
- Embrace Lifelong Learning: Challenge your brain by acquiring new skills, hobbies, or knowledge. Whether it's learning to play a musical instrument or picking up a new language, engaging in novel activities stimulates neuroplasticity.
- Mindfulness and Meditation: Practices like mindfulness and meditation have been shown to promote neuroplasticity. They help in rewiring the brain by enhancing focus, attention, and emotional regulation. YouTube is a great source of guided meditations and meditation music. My personal favorite is Dr. Joe Dispenza. If you aren't familiar with his work I can't urge you enough to check him out.
- Stay Active: Regular physical exercise has been linked to enhanced neuroplasticity. It not only improves blood flow to the brain but also encourages the release of growth factors that support the formation of new neural connections.
This is where chiropractic comes in, for a few reasons actually. The first is it is hard to move if you are in pain. Have you ever sat and binge watched TV for an hour or 6? When you got up did you feel refreshed and ready to go or a bit stiff, like a tin man in the woods? Often times if you are living with chronic pain or even a new injury it greatly limits how you are able to move.
Staying in that same vein...you not only have to move your body but you have to move it properly. As we move, receptors located throughout the body send information to the brain through our central nervous system, which is made up of the brain and spinal cord. Information travels up and down the cord, this is what keeps the brain and body communicating.
When the bones of our spine are out of their proper alignment, something we chiropractors call a subluxation, this can interfere with that communication; and when this communication becomes distorted it can result in pain and dis-ease. So, by doing the 3 easy tasks as above you can not only keep your brain growing and thriving but you can improve your health and well-being too!
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