Neuroplasticity: The Process Of Rewiring Your Brain and its Everyday Applications

The human brain is an organ of perpetual reconstruction. Composed of, on average, eighty-six billion neurons, the brain’s cells are able to chemically intercommunicate and fire trillions of signals to one another each second. Functioning alongside its immeasurably fast neurological transmissions is the brain’s plasticity. Take the recent case of an epileptic patient publically referred to by the initials of “U.D.”. U.D. was an adolescent boy that had grappled with tumor-induced seizures that failed to abate with the introduction of medication. After having exhausted all other options, both physicians and U.D. 's family agreed to the removal of his tumor. This, however, required the removal of a third of the right hemisphere of his brain. Following the surgery, U.D. was without his right occipital and temporal lobes. Astonishingly, in addition to diminishing his chronic seizures, U.D. suffered minimal permanent damage to his brain. Upon analysis of his brain functioning post surgery, scientists found that his left hemisphere had compensated for the visual and auditory roles that his right hemisphere once maintained. 

U.D. serves as a prime model of the brain’s ability to adapt and remodel itself and its functioning. Given the brain’s demonstrated capability in even the most extreme situations, it should come to no surprise that the brain’s neuroplasticity, or ability to create and change its neurons, are affected by a plethora of genetic and environmental factors. Daily habits, such as level of exercise, as well as the internal psychological interpretation of ourselves and the world around us, impact the brain’s biology. Studies have shown that, on a microscopic level, brain rewiring occurs through neurogenesis; the process of generating additional neurons in the brain. Stimulating this process can lead to favorable shifts in mental health and general cognitions. 

One proven method of increasing the neuroplasticity of the brain is through music. The simple process of listening to music serves as a stimulant for the neurons in the brain and allows for new connections between them to form. A study focusing on the impact of listening to Motzart resulted in an increase of memory and processing functions while, and after, listening to the composer than that of the control group. Music is often used as a method to boost mood and, when paired with the fact that it has the ability to interact with the brain’s cells that betters cognitive function, reinforces the benefit of music to physiologically reshape your cognitions. Another effective tool to activate neuroplasticity is physical exercise. Exercise has been linked to decreasing, and sometimes reversing, the rates at which stress and mental health disorders burden the brain. Through improving neurological functioning and activating endorphins within the body, exercise, especially when done over a sustained period of time, decreases the severity that mentally strenuous situations have on the brain.

Scientific interpretation of the brain has evolved greatly throughout time and there is still much that remains mysterious about the brain and its malleability. That being said, noticeable improvements on the quality and longevity of an individual's life are evident in individuals that participate in habits, such as music therapy and exercise, that promote the maintenance and growth of the brain. While the brain is most easily influenced during early childhood, a time of sensitive development, neuroplasticity has been seen to be present in individuals of all ages. U.D. 's miraculous neurological recovery serves as a microcosm of the astonishing adaptability that the brain has; adaptability that can potentially be optimized with even simple alterations to one’s lifestyle.

References:

Adlaf, E. W., Vaden, R. J., Niver, A. J., Manuel, A. F., Onyilo, V. C., Araujo, M. T., … Overstreet-Wadiche, L. (2017, January 30). Adult-born neurons modify excitatory synaptic transmission to existing neurons. Retrieved from https://elifesciences.org/articles/19886#s3 

Kays, J. L., Hurley, R. A., Taber, K. H., Kays, Hurley, R., Gould, … Greenwood BN. (2012, April 1). The Dynamic Brain: Neuroplasticity and Mental Health. Retrieved from https://neuro.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.neuropsych.12050109 

Scutti, S. (2018, July 31). When surgeons removed one sixth of a child's brain, here's what happened. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/31/health/surgeons-remove-part-of-childs-brain-case-study/index.html        

Shaffer, J. (2016, July 26). Neuroplasticity and Clinical Practice: Building Brain Power for Health. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4960264/