“You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” It was widely believed, through the middle of the 20th century, that as people aged, change was nearly impossible. While it may be true that the young brain is more susceptible to change, more recent research has proven the possibilities for changes in adult brains.
Neuroplasticity, explained in the simplest of terms, is the brain’s ability to change through growth and reorganization. The field of coaching relies in large part on a person’s ability to shift his or her mindset. While coaching is still a new field, the brain-based science behind neurological change may be a key part of making lasting changes toward a life of greater significance.
Fortunately, there are myriad resources to enhance our learning about the brain and nervous system. The Huberman Lab podcast by Andrew Huberman, Ph.D. is an incredible resource with in-depth information on how the brain and nervous system work. Dr. Huberman is a professor of neuroscience at Stanford, and each episode is approximately 90 minutes of curated, solid information.
Dr. Huberman dives deep into the inner workings of the nervous system, to provide listeners with an understanding of biological mechanisms supported by high-quality research. He takes complicated subject matter and communicates it in an accessible way to the layperson.
For example, in the first episode, Dr. Huberman explains the anatomy of the nervous system and its available functions. In subsequent episodes, he provides more detailed exploration into different aspects of the nervous system, sticking to a topic for multiple episodes — such as sleep and neuroplasticity.
The benefit of failure
One way to make changes to the adult brain is to experience failure. When we attempt to perform new tasks and fail, a couple of things happen. According to Dr. Huberman, “Errors are the gateway to plasticity.” That is, when our brain experiences error, it creates a signal which generates a state of plasticity, readying it for change in the neurological structure which, in turn, affects behavioral change. Done right, this is a tool to be used toward living a life we desire.
ire.
At the point where we experience frustration, we can choose one of two paths:
- We can keep trying to successfully complete the task at hand, or
- We can walk away.
When we press on toward success, our brains produce a cocktail of chemicals or neurotransmitters (epinephrine, acetylcholine, and the molecule dopamine). As we realize and acknowledge improvement and the brain releases dopamine, positive reinforcement helps motivate change.
When we walk away, we miss out on the effects of the chemicals and our brains don’t enter into the state of plasticity.
Steps
- Try something new
- Repeat it for short durations (approximately 7 to 30 minutes)
- The very act of repetition allows our motor neurons to teach themselves
- Acknowledge your progress during this time (this promotes the dopamine release)
- For example, say out loud, “I got it. That one was a little better. The more I try, the better I get.”
- Rest and allow the neurons to do their work.
Now here’s the fun part. Take a break. The neurons begin to reorganize during rest. You might have experienced this before. Imagine trying to learn a new piece on the piano, studying for an exam. You try and try and can’t get it, and then in the morning, voila. That’s neuroplasticity at work.
Plasticity is more robust when the stakes are high. For example, if you need to learn to climb a tree in order to get food, the crucial need to change will heighten the capability of plasticity.
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This post was previously published on Medium.
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