Neuroplasticity is a term used to describe a particular brain function, namely, the brain’s ability to change and adapt. This means the brain’s ability to reorganize itself by generating new neurons and forming new pathways and networks. The process also changes what areas control which functions. Why does neuroplasticity occur? It occurs in direct response to stimuli.
Why is this significant? Scientists and doctors used to believe that a mature human brain could never change and that it was in a “fixed” state. Therefore, the ability to learn new tasks was once considered very limited. That meant that people only had so much control over their level of intelligence, level of happiness, and level of mental stability. That seemed to go hand-in-hand with the idea that mental decline occurs with age, and after episodes of stroke or brain disease.
However, the new theories surrounding neuroplasticity (and supposedly proven by neuroplasticity) suggest that the adult brain remains flexible for a long period of time, beyond what was once believed to be limitations. Neuroplasticity proves a few things without question: that the brain has the ability to reorganize itself even after trauma and injury; and that the brain can continuously grow, forming new connections, changing faulty wiring and eliminating old wiring when necessary.
There is also speculation in medical and scientific communities that suggest that the brain can adapt not only to external experiences (as in correcting injuries that accumulate) but also that it can adapt or change according to internal thoughts. That means that theoretically, a person could change what they think about, the activities they enjoy and even the values that define them as a person. If the physical structure changes, and if new neural pathways are being formed, that means anything is possible.
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