Research has long confirmed that brain plasticity is a universal truth. This, of course, is good news. However, this good news about the brain’s ability to change itself, according to research, takes place with an associated “sting in the tail.”

In research dealing with brain plasticity, Medina (2008) examined the research of Kandel (1999, 2006). Eric Kandel was known for his research dealing with the biological basis of learning and memory. This research earned Kandel the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2000.

In this research, Medina explained that Kandel discovered that neurons and neurological connections physically changed in response to learning. Consequently, Medina, citing Kandel, noted that the brain was in effect “firing and rewiring itself” during the active process of thinking and learning.

Further to the research of Kandel, Medina reported on how Kandel found that even the smallest amount of information causes “the physical alteration of the structure of the neurons participating in the [learning] process.” As a result of this finding, Medina reported that the neurological implication of this research by Kandel informed that “the brain is constantly rewiring itself” in response to all forms of internal and external input.

Furthermore, regarding visually observable neurological physical changes, Medina noted that Kandel also found that during this learning and rewiring process, “[a]s neurons learn, they swell, and split.” These splitting neurons then “break connections in one spot, glide over to a nearby region, and form connections with their new neighbors, which then strengthen and further advance neurological* *potential.

Associated with this, according to Medina, Kandel’s research also found that not all neurons moved to form additional connections with their new neighbors. What, in fact, was also happening, Kandel discovered, was that there were “stay-in-place” neurons. Self-evidently, these “stay-in-place” neurons did not move. Interestingly, these “stay-in-place” neurons also contributed to advancing neurological connections.

These “stay-in-place” neurons did this by helping to further strengthen their “immovable stay-in-place” locations, which then further enhanced these already established electrical links with each other. As such, this “stay-in-place” connectivity also helped to further improve, advance, and enhance neurological efficiency. This would, and did (according to the research), lead to bringing about ongoing cognitive and memory benefits. All of this, in combination, contributed to the now well-known phenomenon of brain plasticity.

Defining Brain Plasticity

Norman Doidge highlighted the significance of brain plasticity in a Stanford University 2014 presentation, where he informed that this inherent brain plasticity condition was “one of the most extraordinary discoveries of the twentieth century” (Purnell, personal communication, 2014).

Kolb et al. (2011) define brain plasticity as “the capacity of the nervous system to change its structure and ultimately its function over a lifetime.” Kantak et al. (2012) are of the opinion that “the brain is a plastic organ with a capability to reorganize in response to behavior and/or injury.”

In their brain plasticity definition, Rose and Rankin (2012) include the synapse, memory, and behavioral changes, which implies learning: “Neuroplasticity is a change (either a strengthening or weakening) in synaptic efficacy brought about through experience. … Changes in synaptic strength can be reflected behaviorally as a change in either magnitude or probability of a given response. The maintenance of these altered synaptic connections is reflected in what is observed as ‘memory.’”

Choices and Consequences

As alluded to above, the good news about the brain is that it can change in response to thoughts and behaviors. However, as also alluded to above, this capacity of the brain to change, in response to intrinsic and extrinsic circumstances, has, as colloquially presented, a “sting in the tail.”

This “sting in the tail” is noted by Kolb et al. (2011), who report that the brain responds to negative thoughts and negative behavior in exactly the same way it neurologically responds to positive thoughts and positive behavior. As such, brain plasticity is a double-edged sword. What this means is that every individual will have the brain (and the mind) that they have chosen. There is no third party to blame; this is a self-selected, conscious choice.

Neuroplasticity Essential Reads

For example, every individual who persistently chooses to engage in and express negative thoughts, and then also to present associated negative actions and behaviors, is effectively neurologically firing and rewiring their brain in accordance with these self-selected thoughts, choices, actions, and behaviors. As noted, there is no third party to blame.

It is crucial to universally understand that your brain does not compel you to think or act. You are your brain; your brain is you. You are the one who creates and activates your thoughts, choices, and actions. All consequences that follow (which can be either negative or positive) are the result of these self-initiated thoughts, choices, actions, and behaviors.

What takes place next will (in absolute terms) be dependent on the thoughts, choices, actions, and behaviors of the individual. If negative choices have been made, the brain will, as noted, rewire to support these negative thoughts and actions.

However, this “negative” neurological wiring can also be pruned and replaced by “positive” neurological rewiring. However, this will only take place if the individual chooses to engage in and actively present constructive thinking, choices, actions, and behavior.

As soon as these new, constructive thoughts, choices, actions, and behaviors are initiated, and constantly applied, as brain plasticity research shows, the brain will, as noted, fire, rewire, and create new neurological pathways that support and begin to establish this now newly self-selected, positive, and constructive thinking, choices, actions, and behaviors, for which the individual will of course be responsible. And this certainly fits in with the circumstance of good news.

As a result, all these new neurological connections will not only start to flourish but also promote further rewiring. This will continue as long as the individual continues to make positive choices. With this in mind, it is important to note the following: “You cannot always control circumstances, but you can control your own thoughts” (Charles Popplestown). “I am responsible for, and have the power over what I think, do, say and choose” (Purje, 2014). “We must become the change we want to see” (Mahatma Gandhi). Always choose wisely. As Viktor Frankl stated: “Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”* With great power, there is great responsibility; use your power wisely. *

References

Kandel, E. (1999). The Scientific American Book of the Brain. The Lyons Press. In Medina, J. (2008). *Brain Rules. *Pear Press.

Kandel, E. (2006). *In Search of Memory: The Emergence of a New Science of Mind. *W.W. Norton & Co., New York. In Medina, J. (2008). *Brain Rules. *Pear Press.

Kantak, S.S., Stinear, J.W., Buch, E.R. & Cohen L. G. (2012). Rewiring the brain. Potential role of the premotor cortex in motor control, learning, and recovery of function following brain injury. Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, 26(3), 282–292.

Kolb, B., Muhammad, A. & Gibb, R. (2011). Searching for factors underlying cerebral plasticity in the normal and injured brain. Journal of Communication Disorders, 44, 503–514.

Medina, J. (2008). *Brain Rules. *Pear Press.

Purnell, K. (2014). Personal communication, in reference to Norman Doidge (2014).

Purje, R. (2014). Responsibility Theory® (Who’s got the power?)®. Amazon/Kindle.

Rose, J.K. & Rankin, C.H. (2012). Behavioral, neural circuit, and genetic analyses of habituation in *C. elegans. *In C. A. Shaw & J. McEachern (Eds.), Toward a Theory of Neuroplasticity, 176–192. Philadelphia, PA: Psychology Press.