{"id":14210,"date":"2025-01-06T10:15:38","date_gmt":"2025-01-06T00:15:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mindbodyfoodinstitute.com\/?p=14210"},"modified":"2025-09-08T13:34:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-08T03:34:12","slug":"neuroplasticity-how-our-brains-are-wired-for-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mindbodyfoodinstitute.com\/neuroplasticity-how-our-brains-are-wired-for-change\/","title":{"rendered":"Neuroplasticity: How Our Brains are Wired for Change\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Our brains contain around <\/span>100 billion neurons<\/span><\/b> \u2013 more connections than there are stars in the universe. Imagine your brain as a vast galaxy, filled with billions of stars that are constantly shifting and adapting. These neural networks handle everything from keeping our hearts beating to making life-changing decisions, using more energy than any other organ in the body.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

We\u2019re not just passive observers of our thoughts; our brains are incredibly active, processing anywhere around <\/span>50,000 to 70,000 thoughts each day on average<\/span><\/b>. This enormous workload fuels our ability to adapt, learn, and thrive.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

But have you ever wondered how our brain – and all this neural activity – translates to the experiences that shape our lives?<\/span> Or the habits that keep us motivated and achieving, or stuck and frustrated?<\/span><\/p>

The Brain\u2019s Earliest Years: A Connection Explosion<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

From the moment we’re born, our brains begin a journey of rapid development. For example, during the first two years of life, neurons make a staggering <\/span>2 million connections every second<\/span><\/b>. By the age of two, a child\u2019s brain has more than 15,000 synaptic connections per neuron \u2013 almost double that of an adult.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

As children, our brains are like sponges, eagerly wiring new connections based on experiences and relying on our sensory input: sight, taste, touch, sound, smell. These experiences form the connections that become the foundation for learning, behaviour, and even future personality traits.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

However, as we grow older, our brains start to prune away unused connections and reinforce the ones that we use most often. This process is called \u2018synaptic pruning\u2019 and it\u2019s why the experiences we have early in life leave such a lasting impact.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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The Myth of the \u201cFixed\u201d Brain<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

For many years, scientists believed that the brain was fixed and unchangeable by adulthood. This outdated belief held that once we reached a certain age, the brain\u2019s structure and abilities were set in stone. However, with advances in brain imaging technology like <\/span>functional MRI (fMRI)<\/span><\/b>, we now know that our brains are dynamic and constantly evolving.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Neuroscientists have uncovered something called the <\/span>Brain Plasticity Switch (BPS)<\/span><\/b>, which is most active during the first 12 years of our lives. This switch allows for the intense learning that occurs in childhood. While it starts to “switch off” around age 25, this doesn\u2019t mean that our brains stop changing. It simply means that learning may require a bit more focus and repetition.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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What is Neuroplasticity?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Neuroplasticity \u2013 often referred to as <\/span>brain plasticity<\/span><\/b> \u2013 is the brain\u2019s remarkable ability to reorganise itself by forming new neural connections. This ability allows our brains to adapt to new information, environments, and even injuries. Every time we think, feel, or act, we are either strengthening existing neural pathways or creating new ones.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

For example:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>