The brain possesses plasticity, but it is not plastic (obviously). Rather, plasticity refers to the brain's malleability, which is defined as being "easily influenced, trained, or controlled." In other words, neuroplasticity allows nerve cells to change or adjust.
There are two main types of neuroplasticity
Functional plasticity is the brain's ability to move functions from a damaged area of the brain to other undamaged areas.
Structural plasticity is the brain's ability to change its physical structure due to learning.
How does this clearly awesome phenomenon work?
A child's brain grows rapidly during the first few years of life. A neuron in the cerebral cortex has 2,500 synapses at birth, which are small gaps between neurons that relay nerve impulses. By the age of three, this number has grown to a huge total of 15,000 synapses per neuron.
Adults, on the other hand, only have about half that number of synapses. Why does this happen? This happens because as we gain new experiences through our lives and grow, some connections are strengthened while others are eliminated. This process is known as synaptic pruning.
Essentially, neurons that are used frequently develop stronger connections and remain in the brain. However, those that are rarely or never used eventually die. By developing new connections and pruning away weak ones, the brain can adapt to the changing environment.
This is an awesome thing that our human brain can do, so how can we take advantage of it?
Acute/Chronic Pain
If we want to start healing acute or chronic pain and move more freely within the body, we need to first address our brain’s health. After all, we experience and interpret pain in our brains.
How can neuroplasticity actually help?
Inflammation is what usually causes pain. Reducing inflammation will allow you to reduce pain. The brain can help with that due to its resilient properties. It can create new pathways as an adaptation to change. This is what we call the brain’s neuroplasticity, and it can have both positive and negative effects.
For example, if one loses sight in one eye, the part of that brain that helps sight in that one eye may be rewired to process sound. However, neuroplasticity can have negative effects too.
Chronic pain is a neuroplastic adaptation, as the brain creates new pain pathways.
So how do we stop this?
Eating certain foods that strengthen our brain’s ability to make neuroplastic changes can ultimately help us rewrite those patterns associated with pain. This is important as it tells us that one of the most powerful tools to combat inflammation doesn’t come from the pharmacy, but from the grocery store.
Harvard Medical School has found that these foods are best to combat inflammation
Olive oil
Green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, kale, and collards
Nuts like almonds and walnuts
Fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, and sardines
Fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and oranges
Increasing Intelligence
Scientists have long believed that one’s level of intelligence couldn’t be improved. Surprisingly, this theory has only changed in the past ten years.
In 2008, a groundbreaking study discovered that intelligence is fluid and can be increased with the proper stimulus. Since then, scientists have changed their fundamental view of human intelligence.
Two landmark studies support this view. One shows that you can grow a larger brain, and the other shows that you can increase your IQ.
London cab drivers face one of the geography tests in the whole world, called “the Knowledge”. Prospective cabbies spend three to four years on what may be the ultimate brain exercise — memorizing London’s 320 main routes, 25,000 streets, and the location of over 20,000 landmarks. Researchers were curious to see what happened to the brain of these cab drivers. Through thorough research, they found that the hippocampus (the part of the brain dealing with memory) grew tremendously in size.
Moreover, many young children are led to believe that they aren’t very smart. Sometimes this is done by well-meaning parents who are trying to motivate their children. As a result, kids are limited and are led to believe that intelligence and other talents are fixed traits rather than cultivable abilities.
Thus, it’s crucial that kids learn about brain plasticity. When students are taught about brain plasticity and how their intelligence is not fixed, it makes a dramatic impact on their morale. It can even help kids raise their IQs. Through the simple understanding that they had the potential to get smarter and do better in school, they did.
In the end, it’s clear that neuroplasticity is one of the (without a doubt) most helpful AND interesting things about us. It allows us to really gain control over our lives and can greatly improve them.
It only takes the knowledge of neuroplasticity and determination to rewire our brains that may allow us to change our lives forever.
Citations:
“Foods That Fight Inflammation.” Harvard Health, 16 Nov. 2021, https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/foods-that-fight-inflammation.
Alban, Deane, et al. “Using Neuroplasticity to Be Smarter and Happier.” Reset.me, 9 Sept. 2015, https://reset.me/story/using-neuroplasticity-to-be-smarter-and-happier/.
Cherry, Kendra. “How Brain Neurons Change over Time from Life Experience.” Verywell Mind, 19 Sept. 2022, https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-brain-plasticity-2794886.
“10 Superfoods for a Strong Brain - Doc Jen Fit: Doctor of Physical Therapy.” Doc Jen Fit | Doctor of Physical Therapy, 16 Apr. 2021, https://www.docjenfit.com/brain-foods-reduce-pain/.
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