The brain is an incredibly complex organ that scientists are still trying to fully understand. One intriguing question is whether the brain has the ability to “reset” or “rewire” itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. This concept, known as neuroplasticity, suggests our brains can adapt and change even into adulthood. In this article, we’ll explore whether neuroplasticity enables the brain to essentially reset itself.
What is neuroplasticity?
Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s ability to modify its connections and rewire itself by forming new neural pathways and altering existing ones. For many years, scientists believed that neuroplasticity declined sharply after childhood. However, research over the past few decades demonstrates that the brain can reorganize and adapt throughout life.
The level of neuroplasticity is highest in childhood but remains present to some degree as we age. The brains of young children have far more synaptic connections than adult brains. As the brain matures, some connections are trimmed away while others are strengthened. But even into adulthood, the brain continues to reshape itself in response to experiences, environment, injuries, aging, and other factors.
Key concepts
- Synaptogenesis – The formation of synapses between neurons in the brain.
- Synaptic pruning – The elimination of synapses as the brain develops and adapts.
- Myelination – The process of forming a myelin sheath around nerve fibers for insulation.
- Neurogenesis – The birth of new neurons in certain parts of the adult brain.
These processes all contribute to neuroplasticity throughout life by allowing the brain to remodel neural pathways and create new connections.
Does neuroplasticity allow the brain to “reset” itself?
In a sense, yes. Neuroplasticity allows the brain to reorganize and form new neural connections in response to changes in behavior, environment, bodily injury, mental experience, and age-related changes.
Some key examples of neuroplasticity’s resetting ability include:
Recovery from brain injury
The brains of patients recovering from stroke or other brain injuries often undergo substantial rewiring as healthy areas take over functions of damaged regions. Neuroplasticity enables neurons to compensate for injury and regain lost abilities through remapping brain circuits.
Changes in sensory input
People who become blind develop enhanced capabilities in their other senses through cross-modal neuroplasticity. Portions of the visual cortex adapt to process hearing, touch, and smell instead.
Learning new skills
When we practice something new, like learning to play an instrument or speak a language, the relevant neural pathways change through neuroplasticity. The brain forms new connections and “rewires” itself to master the skill.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
By changing thought and behavior patterns, cognitive behavioral therapy induces measurable changes in brain connectivity through neuroplastic processes. Certain regions become more strongly connected.
Meditation and mindfulness
Regular meditation seems to trigger functional and structural neuroplastic changes in the brain, such as increased thickness in the prefrontal cortex linked to attention and sensory processing.
Overcoming addiction
Neuroplasticity may help explain addiction and the brain’s ability to break addictive patterns. Decreased dopamine signaling in the reward circuitry triggers an amplified response to drug-related cues – but therapy can normalize signaling.
In all these examples, the brain is essentially “resetting” itself by forming new neural connections and pathways in response to changes in behavior, environment, and bodily states.
How does the brain rewire itself through neuroplasticity?
There are several key mechanisms involved in neuroplastic rewiring of the brain:
Dendritic branching and remodeling
Dendrites are branched extensions of neurons that receive signals from other cells. Dendrites can grow, retract, and form new branches to modify connectivity.
Synaptic plasticity
Synapses can strengthen or weaken between neurons in response to increases or decreases in signaling activity. This synaptic plasticity underlies learning and memory formation.
Neurogenesis
The birth of new neurons, or neurogenesis, occurs in certain brain areas like the hippocampus into adulthood. These newborn cells can integrate into circuits and enhance plasticity.
Gliogenesis
Non-neuronal brain cells called glia also undergo plasticity. Increased glial cell genesis and remodeling of cells called astrocytes facilitate neuroplasticity.
Epigenetic changes
Epigenetic modifications regulate gene expression by altering chromatin structure. These chemical tags on DNA enable flexible control over synaptic plasticity genes involved in reshaping brain connectivity.
All these mechanisms interact in a complex balance that allows neuroplastic remodeling while maintaining stability and preventing uncontrolled changes.
Does “resetting” the brain help treat disease and disorders?
Harnessing neuroplasticity may offer exciting new approaches to treating brain-based conditions. Researchers are exploring ways to “reset” problematic neural circuits through techniques like:
Brain stimulation
Non-invasive brain stimulation, such as with electromagnetic pulses or electrodes, shows promise for triggering neuroplasticity in certain disorders like depression, addiction, chronic pain, stroke, and more.
Cognitive training
Customized cognitive training exercises designed to change neural activity patterns may be able to enhance connectivity and neuroplasticity in conditions like ADHD, anxiety, autism, and schizophrenia.
Immersive virtual reality
Immersive VR training has induced neuroplastic changes that reduce phantom limb pain in amputees, restore vision after a stroke, and improve arm mobility.
Neurofeedback
Real-time neurofeedback during fMRI scanning allows people to witness their own brain activity. This may guide neuroplasticity to self-regulate brain networks treating chronic pain, PTSD, depression, and other disorders.
Vagus nerve stimulation
Electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve enhances plasticity in the brain’s learning and memory centers. It shows promising results for treating Alzheimer’s disease, depression, addiction, and stroke recovery.
More research is needed, but harnessing neuroplasticity may offer exciting new approaches for “resetting” brain structure and function in numerous neurological and psychiatric conditions that currently lack effective treatments.
Are there downsides to neuroplasticity?
While neuroplasticity clearly enables amazing adaptive capabilities, there are some potential downsides to consider as well:
- Maladaptive plasticity – Changes in brain wiring sometimes reinforce damaging patterns, like with chronic pain, addiction, anxiety disorders, phantom limb pain, and more.
- Neurodegenerative disorders – Excess plasticity early in Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, and some other degenerative diseases may hasten neural damage and cognitive decline.
- Imbalanced plasticity – Neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and schizophrenia may involve poorly balanced plasticity disrupting neural circuits.
- Memory distortions – Faulty neuroplastic encoding of memories could underlie false memories or memory distortions.
- Neuroplasticity decline – Diminished neuroplasticity with aging correlates with reduced cognitive flexibility and learning capacity later in life.
While plasticity allows for adaptation, improper or imbalanced rewiring can have adverse consequences. More research is needed to fully understand risks associated with neuroplasticity processes.
Can you manually “trigger” brain reset through plasticity?
Every brain is wired uniquely based on our individual life experiences. But is it possible to consciously trigger your own neuroplastic change by altering your thoughts, behaviors, and environment?
Researchers are still investigating this, but certain key factors are known to promote plasticity and brain change:
Learn new challenging skills
Mastering novel, difficult skills forces the brain to rewire itself. Try learning to juggle, play an instrument, or study a new language.
Vary your routine
Break out of habitual thoughts and behaviors by shaking up your normal routines, commuting routes, and environments.
Exercise and sleep
Aerobic exercise and getting adequate sleep stimulate beneficial neuroplasticity. Both help counteract age-related decline in plasticity.
Socialize and reduce stress
Interacting socially and minimizing chronic stress support neuroplasticity through dopamine and BDNF signaling.
Try new activities
Engaging in novel activities, especially complex motor skills and coordination like dance or table tennis, can induce widespread neural changes.
More human studies are needed, but actively training your brain like a muscle with challenging novelty may help tap into innate neuroplasticity and “reset” stagnant neural patterns.
| Factor | Effect on Neuroplasticity |
|---|---|
| Challenging skill learning | Forces new connections for mastery |
| Routine disruption | Triggers brain adaptation |
| Aerobic exercise | Stimulates BDNF, neurogenesis |
| Social interaction | Releases dopamine, enhances plasticity |
| Novel activities | Induces widespread neural changes |
Conclusion
The brain is not permanently fixed in adulthood but retains the capacity for neuroplastic remodeling throughout life. Ongoing neuroplasticity allows for adaptive rewiring and essentially enables the brain to “reset” itself in response to new experiences, bodily injuries, behavioral changes, and age-related shifts. Harnessing plasticity shows promising treatment potential for numerous neurological and psychiatric conditions. While risks like maladaptive plasticity exist, we may be able to consciously tap into innate neuroplastic mechanisms through learning new skills, changing routines, exercising, socializing, and exposing ourselves to new activities. More human research is still needed, but evidence clearly demonstrates the brain can functionally and structurally “reset” and renew itself via neuroplasticity well beyond childhood.