The concept of neuroplasticity has been studied in extensive detail since Karl Lashley’s work on rhesus monkeys in the 1920s.  Prior to his work, scientists believed that we were born with a fixed number of neurons and that our nervous system was essentially “fixed” at birth.

More recent research has shown that in adulthood, neurons don’t generally undergo cell division and therefore don’t reproduce, with some exceptions, however, neural networks — the way that different neurons connect to each other can change over time.  This is what is meant by neuroplasticity and it is very important in how we deal with sensory information.

Physiologically speaking, the connections in our brain change.

I like this a lot.   I studied this in college in Florida and reading a couple of articles in Scientific American Mind today reminded me of why I love neuroscience.

So if our brain changes, even evolves, per se, and we change, why is it that sometimes, people have a difficult time accepting that things have changed? The least we can learn from our little neurons is that change is acceptable, good even.  It can make us more streamlined.  There’s an expression in brain science that says: “neurons that fire together, wire together and those that fire apart, wire apart.”  In laymen’s terms, that means that two neurons producing simultaneous impulses can become one pathway (kind of like merging two parallel highways).  This makes us faster, better, stronger (on a cellular level, of course).  It makes us able to deal with physical trauma and disease.  It is evolutionarily beneficial for us.

And trust me, the neuron doesn’t get sad because his map is changing.

I want to tie this into the post I wrote about structural identity and the concept that we are constantly reinventing ourselves (intentionally) and in some cases, just changing (just because).

For example, changes can be:

• a person who has lost/gained a huge amount of weight in a short period of time.
• a teenager going through puberty.
• someone who has lost a limb.
• a drastic new haircut.
• a shiny new scar.  (This happened to me after my surgery.)

Sure, for the first couple of times you catch a glance at yourself in the mirror, you’re kind of like “WHOA, who is THAT?”  or “WHAT is that on me?”  But then, your brain just knows.  And that shock isn’t there anymore.  And, its unlikely you’re fighting these changes tooth and nail!

What about other, non-tangible changes?

• losing one’s job.
• the dissolution of a romantic relationship.
• realising you are “not the same person you were last year” (at least I hope so!)

Just like your neural networks, you too will form a new map.  A new job, a new relationship, a newer, better version of who you were last year.  Fighting the reality that “things have changed” just sets you back on that path.

Other interesting posts:  Structural Identity