Some of you already know that my favourite word is neuroplasticity. Neuro-plasticity refers to the ability of the brain to change in response to experiences. The brain is made up of neurons (or nerve cells) and changes in the brain can be by either: 1) making the connection between individual neurons stronger; 2) making new connections between previously unconnected neurons; 3) formation of completely new neurons (neuro-genesis).
We used to think that the human brain develop only into early adulthood and after that it was a slow but progressive dying off of neurons. Recently however, because of increasingly more sophisticated instruments to view the brain, we have come to realise that the brain – given the right circumstances – has the capacity to develop throughout the life span.
Now, if that is not good news then I don’t know what is! It means that we are not stuck with a brain that may not have developed optimally due to genetic and/or environmental factors.
The experiences that have been shown to aide the development of the brain include: exercise, focused attention (mindfulness), novelty and ….yes, psychotherapy. So that means when someone tells me (as they often do) that they feel different after psychotherapy treatment I know that they don’t just feel different but that they are in fact different (in a neurological sense).
That is why neuroplasticity is my favourite word – it points to the possibility of real, fundamental, adaptive, and sustainable change.
Once again, all together now: Neuroplasticity!