Neuroplasticity

            Neuroplasticity is often used to describe the changes in the brain throughout a life span. But how do things change in our brains? First, its important to know the basic anatomy and physiology of the brain. Neurons are studied based on how they synapse with other neurons that influence change through out our brains. Some changes include physical changes of neurons, cortical remapping as a result of injury, behavior, thought and emotions. Neurons in our brains reorganize pathways, create new connections and, in some cases, even create new neurons. There are four ways neuroplasticity can happen, it can vary by age depending on what changes more in control during a specific period. Other types of neurons may under go plasticity such as glial and vascular cells, plasticity may be a resulting of learning or recovering from brain injury. Lastly genetics and a person’s environment or how they react to their environment is the fourth reason for plasticity. There are two ways that these can happen. Functional plasticity is the brains ability to change and rearrange itself because it has to because it has been damaged, so it takes information and creates synapses to undamaged areas of the brain. Structural plasticity is the brains ability to change the physical structure of neurons as a result of learning.

            A neuron is a type of cells found in the body that is electrically excited and used to help the brain communicate within its self and to the rest of the body to maintain and control various functions of the body. Neurons are made up of a body, axon, and dendrites which are fingerlike projections used to communicate with each other. They change over time by increasing the number of dendrites. The more that we learn and are being challenged, especially after being injured, our brain has to figure out how we can modify a behavior, thought, or even physical ability. The move we have to adapt to specific demands, our brain is forced to then “grow”, change or adapt itself as well. Although we may not be able to form new neurons, new connections are able to form over a life span. Because neurons can change over time, the more signals sent between two neurons, the stronger the connections grows. With each new experience, lesson, or event, the brain slightly rewires itself thanks to the functioning, support, and nourishment of glial cells. We are able to understand this by using electrodes and tracking electrical and chemical signals given off by neurons.

            Growth mindset is the idea that we can grow our brain's capacity to learn and to solve problems. This is a huge part of how we can increase those synaptic connections that can make our brain grow. As we learn things, we remember them and form pathways and connections to solve a problem. Growth mindset is the cognitive behavior and belief about the development of one’s own intelligence.