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Neuroplasticity, The brain’s ability to reorganize throughout life, is a hot topic in the scientific community. Psychiatrists Norman Doidge calls neuroplasticity “one of the most extraordinary studies of the 20th century”. It seems new books regarding brain changing for fitness, pain management, learning, and weight loss are coming out weekly.
Neuroplasticity allows the billions of interconnected neurons in the brain to adjust their connections and pathways in response to changes within our bodies and our environments. The ability to adapt and change is central to learning and, unlike previously suspected, is maintained into old age.
This means we can we can learn anything - how to do 50 pushups, how to stick to a diet or not overeat, how to alleviate pain, how to dance, etc., at any point in our lives if we practice properly.
The advent of the Functional MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) allows scientists to create a “map” of a persons brain and determine what areas are working. As mentioned in the video, new learning activates a specific area of the brain (the frontal lobe). Once a person becomes proficient in that new skill, the brain activation moves to a lower part of the brain.
The change of brain activation areas is essential. When we first learn a new skill it takes up all of our attention. For instance, if someone is concentrating on learning how to juggle and you ask them to perform some cognitive task (like simple arithmetic), you may break their concentration and cause them to drop the balls. However, once juggling becomes somewhat automatic, you are able to do arithmetic or hold a conversation.
The second necessity for learning is that we move differently. If we do not move differently, we will not activate the learning part of our brain in the frontal lobe. Dr. Theresa Nesbitt says: “perfect practice has 3 components- mindfulness, movement, and mood”. These components, and intentionally moving differently, are fundamental to the Z-Health Performance program and other brain fitness programs.
You will find an example of exceptional practice below. Ben Hogan mastered his golf swing, by practicing in slow motion, being mindful and perfecting the small movement components - the ABC’s.
No matter what shape you are currently in, no matter what skill you want to perfect, you can; your brain is wired for it. All it takes is practice.
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