Neuroplasticity: The Secret to a New You
The brain’s superpower you’d wish you knew about sooner.
“No, I can’t do it,” he said, watching in shock.
“What do you mean you can’t do it?” I asked, confused.
“I can’t… I can’t learn this.” He stuttered.
“Why?” I asked again.
“I’ve just watched you play forward, backward, up and down…so fast!” “It’s just too complicated; I don’t think I can ever learn this thing.” He surrendered.
“But I wasn’t always this good. It took time and practice to get here.” I tried to encourage him.
“We all know you’re a natural talent and that’s not who I am.” “I honestly don’t think I can do this.” He added firmly, standing up from his seat.
“So, after several weeks of asking me to teach you how to play the guitar, you’re just going to give up before your first lesson?” I said in disbelief.
That was Ken, my coursemate from my undergraduate days, throwing in the towel on his guitar career before it even started. All it took was watching me play a few warm-up scales.
But as he walked away, I could tell that he genuinely believed that learning the guitar was beyond his ability.
Interestingly, that’s how many of us feel about certain skills. We think they’re too advanced for us and that we lack the ability to learn them.
This self-imposed limitation can prevent us from reaching our full potential. Fortunately, science says otherwise. It explains how our brain changes when we do something new repeatedly over time.
So, if you’re still in doubt about whether or not you can learn that life-changing skill, let me introduce you to the world of neuroplasticity.
Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain to reorganise itself and adapt to new experiences and learning.
When we learn something new or have a new experience, certain groups of neurons in the brain get activated and release neurotransmitters. These chemical messengers bind to receptors on other neurons and cause them to get activated too. This creates a temporary neural pathway — a series of interconnected neurons that transmit information.
As we continue to learn or experience the same thing, the neural pathway gets stronger and becomes more efficient at transmitting information. This is known as long-term potentiation (LTP).
This is what happens when tasks like driving, swimming or riding a bike become much easier after we’ve practised them for a while. They become second nature and require little conscious effort to do them.
This is the result of the brain’s ability to streamline and simplify processes through repetition and practice.
On the other hand, if we stop learning or experiencing the same thing, the neural pathway may weaken and become less efficient at transmitting information. This is called long-term depression (LTD).
Our brain is so flexible that it can reorganise itself and form new neural connections based on changes in our environment, experiences, and learning. In other words, we can train the neurons in our brain to do essentially anything, and in the process, transform who we are.
What it means for you
If there’s a skill you’d like to learn, the only way to become good at it is to start practising it. This is how you lay down the neural framework for that skill.
As you may have observed, encoding a skill into muscle memory doesn’t happen overnight; it requires sustained practice over time.
In other words, if you consistently practice a skill using correct techniques, for a long enough time, you’ll eventually become good at it.
It’s important to note that the time and effort it’ll take to master a skill might not be the same for everyone. So, I suggest you don’t compare yourself to other people. This is because your learning process will be affected by a combination of factors in ways that are unique to you.
Final thoughts
The great thing about neuroplasticity is that it shows us what’s possible. It provides a scientific explanation for the emphasis on consistent practice that we often hear about in relation to skill development.
It turns out that regularly engaging in an activity helps to strengthen the neural pathways associated with it.
So, don’t be intimidated by that skill. What you need are proper techniques, consistent practice, and a certain period of time.
I may not have been able to convince Ken to learn the guitar; however, I hope this piece inspires you to improve your life by learning a new skill or developing an existing one.
P.S. You can WATCH THE VIDEO version of this piece here.
Bibliography
- Increased cortical representation of the fingers of the left hand in string players by Elbert T., Pantev, C., Wienbruch C., Rockstroh B., & Taub, E.
- www.healthtransformer.co: The Neuroscience of Behavior Change
- Cognitive activity and neural plasticity in the aging brain by Kueider A. M., Parisi J. M., Anderson J. D., & Smith G. E.
- Exercise, brain, and cognition across the life span. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity by Voss M. W., Nagamatsu L. S., Liu-Ambrose T., & Kramer A. F.
- Netflix Documentary: The World Within