Can Your Brain Change Itself? A Little Insight into Neuroplasticity

Take a minute to think about the kind of person you were five years ago. Your lifestyle, habits, and knowledge were all different to some degree. The way you spoke, solved problems, viewed, and understood the world was different. Yet despite all those changes, many people assume our brains have stayed largely the same. Quite the opposite is true. Every single new skill, memory, experience, and interaction leaves a permanent biological footprint within our nervous system. “Practice makes perfect” is a common phrase, but it has a deeper meaning at the neuronal level. As we learn, practice, and adapt, billions of neurons strengthen old connections, weaken unused ones, and create entirely new pathways. This lifelong ability of the brain to modify itself is known as neuroplasticity.

What is Neuroplasticity:

Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to change its structure in response to external stimuli such as new experiences, injuries, learning, and even environmental changes. The key idea is that the brain is not a fixed circuit board. It resembles a living network that continuously adapts through life. Historically, neuroscientists believed that most neurons were produced during fetal development and that, after an individual reached adulthood, their brains were permanently wired. People also commonly believed injuries were irreversible. This view held until the late 20th century, when researchers discovered that new neurons could form throughout life while existing neurons also strengthened and weakened. Researchers also discovered adult neurogenesis, when certain brain regions can generate new neurons.

This developed into the idea of neural pathways: chains of neurons that communicate with each other. The more the pathway is used, the stronger the synapses are, the faster the communication, and the more efficient the processing. Think of it as taking a certain road to work or walking through a hike on a certain trail. The first time you try those things, it will be slow and difficult, but the more you practice, the easier it becomes.

How do neurons build new connections:

A key term to know is synapse. Synapses are communication points between neurons. At the synapse, neurotransmitters are released, signals are transmitted, and connections are strengthened or weakened. Neuroplasticity largely occurs through changes at synapses. Long Term Potentiation (LTP) is one of the most important mechanisms of learning and memory. LTP is the long-lasting strengthening of synaptic transmission after repeated stimulation. In easier words, neurons that communicate more frequently become better at communicating. “Neurons that fire together, wire together” is Hebb’s rule from Donald Hebb, which nicely summarizes the concept. When two neurons activate simultaneously at repeated intervals, their connection strengthens, and the pathway becomes more efficient. Think of it as learning to play the piano. Every time you practice, you are using your visual neurons, motor neurons, auditory neurons, and memory circuits. They all fire at the same time, and the more they do that, the more they become increasingly connected.

Neuroplasticity in Action:

As mentioned previously, when you are learning to play an instrument, you are using various neurons, and they all must work together to perfect that skill. Repeated practice has been shown to literally change the brain's structure. MRI images show that musicians have enlarged motor cortex regions, an enhanced auditory cortex, and stronger interhemispheric communication.

Another prevalent example is studying for exams. When we review material repeatedly, do practice questions, and take time to understand it, neural pathways strengthen and retrieval becomes easier. Active recall is a common study tactic used across different sources, and it works because repeated exposure and activation strengthen neural circuits.

Brain Rewiring After Injury:

Have you ever wondered why or how patients who have experienced strokes are able to recover? Healthy brain regions can partially assume functions previously performed by damaged regions, a process known as functional reorganization. Phantom limb syndrome is a very common example of this. People who lose a limb often feel sensations such as itching, pressure, and pain even though the limb is gone. This occurs due to the somatosensory cortex (the brain’s body map) reorganizing after amputation. After injuries, the brain compensates in different ways, such as forming alternate pathways, activating neighboring regions, and recruiting unused circuits. In simpler terms, the brain reroutes the neuronal traffic.

Can Neuroplasticity be Harmful:

While neuroplasticity is widely recognized as a highly rewarding ability of the brain, it can also be harmful in certain situations. Drug addiction is the most prevalent example, as repeated drug use can strengthen those reward pathways. Dopamine signals end up being altered, and the brain becomes increasingly efficient at craving a specific harmful substance. This is an example of neuroplasticity working against us. Chronic pain is another example where pain pathways become strengthened. Even after the tissue heals, the brain may continue producing pain signals, which are called “pain memory.” PTSD is also another example where traumatic experiences can produce lasting changes in our amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex. The brain becomes highly sensitive to threat-related cues, which can lead to flashbacks, hypervigilance, and anxiety. This is another form of plasticity, but maladaptive plasticity.

Why does neuroplasticity matter?

Understanding neuroplasticity helps us develop a growth mindset by showing that improvement is possible. Learning isn't just a “talent”; practice can physically change our brain and improve various aspects of our daily lives and routines. It also shows that the adult brain never fully loses its capacity to adapt. You can learn an instrument at 60, learn to speak a different language at 70, and recover specific functions after an injury. This is possible because neuroplasticity persists throughout a person's lifetime.

Neuroplasticity reveals a remarkable truth: our brains are not merely recording our experiences; they are being transformed by them.

About the Author

Meerab Faisal is an undergraduate neuroscience and pre-medical student at The University of Texas at Dallas with interests in neuroscience, neural plasticity, and medicine. Her research experience includes work on neural plasticity and sensory-neuron biology, and she is also working on intraoperative neurophysiology research with Global Innervation LLC. Through her writing, Meerab aims to make complex neuroscience concepts approachable and relevant to everyday life.

References:

• Bliss, T. V. P., & Collingridge, G. L. (1993). A synaptic model of memory: Long-term potentiation in the hippocampus. Nature, 361(6407), 31–39. https://doi.org/10.1038/361031a0

• Herholz, S. C., & Zatorre, R. J. (2012). Musical training as a framework for brain plasticity: Behavior, function, and structure. Neuron, 76(3), 486–502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2012.10.011

• Ramachandran, V. S., & Hirstein, W. (1998). The perception of phantom limbs. Brain, 121(9), 1603–1630. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/121.9.1603

• Cramer, S. C., et al. (2011). Harnessing neuroplasticity for clinical applications. Brain, 134(6), 1591–1609. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awr039

• Lüscher, C., & Malenka, R. C. (2011). Drug-evoked synaptic plasticity in addiction: From molecular changes to circuit remodeling. Neuron, 69(4), 650–663. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2011.01.017

Disclaimer

This blog is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The information presented reflects the author’s understanding of current neuroscience concepts and should not replace consultation with a qualified healthcare professional. Readers should seek professional medical guidance regarding any questions or concerns about their health or neurological conditions.