Old Dog's Can Learn New Tricks
It can be difficult to learn new behaviors and to change the way we think. But studies show the more we learn throughout our lives the greater our memory and concentration will be as we age. Life long learners have shown to…
– Live Longer
– Contribute more to others
– Further their professional development (cha-chang $$)
– and more importantly are HAPPIER
It was once thought that we have a certain amount of ability to learn, though this has been debunked by research at the University of California Berkeley in 1964 by Marian Diamond. Since then more and more research has shown that our brains can adapt. This concept is known as neuroplasticity. Neurogenesis is the ability to increase and gain neurons, not just change the circuits.
Neuroplasticity
The brain has the ability to rewire and create different and new neural pathways. This means it can re-learn and change. We can get rid of "pathways" we don't need anymore and strengthen other ones. This can lead to lasting change in our behavior.
Why does Neuroplasticity Matter?
It can help you change your ways…
Seriously, it can help you change those bad habits and can help guide you to create the habits you’ve been wanting to gain. The catch is, you have to train yourself to create that “habit”. In order to create new habits you have to exercise that synapse. Literally, you have to do the habit over and over again to create lasting effect.
Human’s are interesting in this way, you can prune away bad habits, and create better habits but it takes time and dedication.
Neuroplasticity can help with
– Brain Damage
– Recovery from strokes
– Enhancing cognitive abilities (memory and learning)
– Being able to learn more efficiently
Here are Ways to Increase Your Brain Development
1. Intermittent Fasting: This means you go a period of time without eating. It can help increase synaptic adaptation, promotes neuron growth, improve overall cognitive function, and decreases the risk of neurodegenerative disease.
Intermittent fasting is done in many ways. The most accepted way includes limiting eating to 8 hours a day and not eating the other 16. For instance only eating from noon to eight PM and not eating the rest of the day. This is considered the 8:16 rule.
2. Traveling can offer new stimuli and create change in pathways.
3. Learning an instrument: this creates connections through different parts of the brain and can increase the ability to form new synapses.
4. Memory Work/Games. This can exercise and create new neural pathways in the prefrontal parietal lobe that can fight against aging degeneration.
5. Non-Dominant hand exercises. This forms new neural pathways and connections.
6. Reading Fiction. This expands your mind and promotes growth. Forever readers have shown to fight off age related degeneration also.
7. Artwork. Get to painting, molding, or anything that is a creative outlet. Studies show it can increase introspection, empathy, memory, attention, and focus.
8. Exercise. Time to dance in the kitchen, or hit that spin class. This encourages neurogenesis and increases neural connectivity.
Last but not least... Sleep
Sleep is the answer to most of life’s problems. At least this is what I believe. Sleep promotes learning retention and can help get rid of excess waste that is considered neurotoxic. It’s so incredibly important to get a good nights sleep.
Neuroplasticity in Anxiety and Depression
Anxiety and depression have negative effects on the brain. This includes negative effects on the structure and connectivity. It encourages maladaptive connectivity. It becomes more difficult to elicit change and create a healthy environment for your brain cells.
But often times, if caught early enough this can be reversed. The day to day life you live has shown to effect your brain which is good and bad. If you’re feeling great and exercising those connections you can reverse and encourage change and growth. If you’re struggling to get out of bed and not working the connectivity of your brain, it dissipates.
Ways to promote neuroplasticity in anxiety and depression include:
– Learning a new subject
– Mindfulness
– Doing challenging crossword puzzles, sudoku
– Exercising
– Healthy Eating
– Listening to music
– Most importantly, actively changing your thought patterns. This takes work and practice. This includes finding a therapist or a coach to help you learn CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) skills. CBT helps strengthen your thought patterns and help you find faulty thinking that inhibits your growth.
Research and Future of Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity is growing and our knowledge of the brain is becoming extensive though there is much more to learn. It’s exciting to be on the forefront of this research. If you’d like to learn more here’s an amazing book to help learn more ways to decrease your stress by challenging yourself.
It’s called the Stress Proof Brain. If you purchase this, I may get something for the referral at no extra cost to you!
Let me know what you think about neuroplasticity! It’s exciting to know that you’re not “stuck” and can change whatever behavior you’d like to change! 😀 You have the power to do anything you want.
Talk soon,
Sarah xoxo
