What is Neuroplasticity?

Neuroplasticity, also known as neural plasticity or brain plasticity, involves the brain’s nervous system changing its functional and structural activities in response to intrinsic and extrinsic stimuli. It is widely known for its ability to reorganize the processes of the brain after it’s exposed to injuries or trauma.

Earlier, people assumed that human brain is incapable of making changes in the nervous system by creating new cells, or forming new neural pathways, especially after you reach a certain age.

Yet, with studies done on how some patients with brain injuries or trauma recover gradually, scientists have proven that brain can indeed change its nervous tissues and form new neural connections which we now call, neuroplasticity.

There are two types of neuroplasticity : Functional and Structural Neuroplasticity.

Functional Neuroplasticity :

The brain can be flexible enough to change the functions of neurons to cater to different environments, experiences, or injuries. It can basically reroute functions of the brain.

Structural Neuroplasticity :

This happens when neuroplasticity alters brain cells’ physical structures to learn new skills, habits or internalize certain practices. This allows brain changes, brain development, and reorganization.

Why so Important?

Neuroplasticity is the real hero behind your capabilities to grow through experience, opportunities and even weaknesses and develop new skills.

Have you ever wondered why you wake up at 6 AM on the weekends even when you don’t have work or why you crave something sweet after every meal?

Also, there might be instances where you often think to yourself—”Why can’t I change?“

Well, here’s where it gets interesting!

Neuroplasticity can create long-term habits when the nervous system is exposed to repetitive stimuli. This means, in simple terms, the habits, behaviors and thoughts you now have are the results of years of your actions and reactions to frequently encountered experiences that led neuroplasticity to fossilize them as permanent and unchangeable in the brain.

This is why you wake up at 6 AM on the weekends because when you wake up at 6 in the morning to go to work every weekday, neuroplasticity manipulates your brain cells to wake you up everyday at 6 AM. It doesn’t matter if you go to work or not.

So, if you crave something sweet and it is out of your control, you might have been eating sweets after every meal for a long time.

What’s in It for Me?

Neuroplasticity not only helps us recover brain damages, injuries or trauma. It also allows us to change our negative behaviors, habits and thoughts and grow as individuals. While the former is mostly done with the help of doctors, the latter is entirely in our hands.

This process of manipulating neuroplasticity so that it can manipulate your brain cells to get rid of your bad habits and replace them with better ones is called “rewiring“.

So, if you want to change your habits, what you should first do is understand why some habits have become internalized in you and then you can start making changes from that point onwards.

You should really convince your brain that you need change!

In order to convince it, you need to follow a routine everyday—just like how, for years, you have been consistently engaging in one bad habit that you can’t seem to get rid of no matter how much you try.
Neuroplasticity does not care about what your motives are. It only takes action when you frequently practice what you want.

Just like this, neuroplasticity can help you make whatever the changes you want to do in your body.

Use your neuroplasticity to may be,

• Learn a new language,

• Practice singing or dancing,

• Engage in physical activities and exercises,

• Maintain a healthy diet,

• or even try some interesting, game changing practices like learning to use your non-dominant hand because it can strengthen engagement in both sides of your brain.

Neuroplasticity can change your life and make your dreams a reality. It can heal your body and direct you toward growth.
But, one thing you should keep in mind is that it’s always up to you to make all these wonders you want to happen in your body possible.

So, you are not stuck—the brain is waiting for your instructions!