How your brain can adapt and grow
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s remarkable ability to reorganise itself by forming new neural connections.
From birth until around age 25, our brain passively absorbs information from our environment and processes our thoughts, emotions, and perceptions to make links between neurons and construct neural pathways. Neuroscientists estimate there are around 100 billion neurons in the human brain, and each neuron can form connections (synapses) with thousands of other neurons. It’s estimated that our brain contains trillions of neural pathways by the time we reach our mid-20s!
As we get older, our brain can still create new neural pathways — thanks to its neuroplasticity — but it requires more active involvement from us. You can create new neural pathways by seeking new information and challenging existing thought patterns.
If you remember just one thing about neuroplasticity, make it ‘growth mindset’. A growth mindset is the belief that intelligence and abilities improve through effort, learning, and perseverance. Popuralised by American psychologist Carol Dweck, this mindset helps you stay motivated, persist in the face of setbacks, and learn from mistakes.
Adopting a growth mindset can help significantly with neuroplasticity, because you’re more likely to take on challenges that stimulate neural changes. On the other hand, if you believe you’re “too old to learn” (a fixed mindset), you may miss out on novel opportunities to rewire your brain.
Try seeking out new experiences, engaging in puzzles or creative activities, and reframing setbacks as learning opportunities. Most of all, remember that your brain is a dynamic, adaptable organ, and it has the power to change!
https://www.thinkingmatters.com/news/neuroplasticity-and-growth-mindset-whats-the-connection