What is neuroplasticity?
We have over 86 billion neurons in our brain, more than ten times the world population. These neurons form a complex and constantly changing network by extending numerous connections with one another. Every time we experience something new, our brain changes. The connections strengthen or weaken, and new connections can be created.1 This ability of the brain to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections is called neuroplasticity. The term “neuro” relates to the neural system (brain, spinal cord, and nerves), and “plasticity” comes from the Greek word “plastos,” meaning “moldable.”
Why do we need neuroplasticity?
Neuroplasticity allows us to establish and maintain new skills and habits. Without it, we would not be able to learn new things, such as learning a new instrument, a new language or adapting to new situations.
Neuroplasticity also plays a crucial role in recovery from brain injuries. When the brain sustains an injury, such as from a stroke or traumatic brain injury, neuroplasticity allows the brain to reorganize and form new neural connections to compensate for damaged areas.
The garden analogy
Imagine your brain as a big garden with countless pathways. These pathways represent neural connections. Some paths are clear and easy to walk because you use them often—these are your habits and skills. When you want to learn something new or form a new habit, it’s like creating a new path in the garden. At first, it’s hard because the path might be overgrown and difficult to navigate. You have to push through the dense foliage, making slow progress. This initial effort is challenging because your brain is not yet accustomed to the new behavior. But the more you use it, the easier it becomes to walk on. The more you practice the new skill, the clearer and easier the path becomes.
Repetition strengthens the neural connections associated with the new skill, making it more automatic over time, becoming a habit. Just like in the garden, the more you walk the new path, the more defined it becomes. Conversely, if you stop using the new path, it will become overgrown again, and the skill/habit will fade. This is why consistency and persistence are crucial in habit formation.
Why is learning something new so much easier for children than for adults? Does neuroplasticity only happen in children?
No, neuroplasticity occurs at any age. A child’s brain has indeed incredibly high neuroplasticity, making it easier for them to learn new skills and to recover from brain injuries.2 While brain plasticity declines gradually with age, adults still possess significant brain plasticity. So, there’s no excuse not to learn something new; it just requires more effort for an adult!
Supporting neuroplasticity
To further enhance neuroplasticity, engage in activities that challenge both your brain and body. A person with an active lifestyle, exposed to changing environments, languages, inputs, and learning situations, has higher neuroplastic activity.
Physical activities, particularly aerobic exercises like walking, running, or cycling, are not only linked to increased neuroplasticity by promoting cell growth and brain plasticity, but they also have been shown to increase the volume of various brain areas. Additionally, these exercises can be coupled with cognitive benefits, enhancing overall brain health.3,4 For more information on this, check out our blog on the role of physical health in brain health.
Especially in the frame of neurorehabilitation, after events such as a stroke, cognitive training, which can be considered a direct extension of physical therapy to the non-motor aspects of the human brain, can be very useful in stimulating neuroplasticity. By systematically harnessing neuroplasticity and driving adaptive changes through carefully designed exercises, cognitive training can significantly aid recovery.4
Testimony from a stroke survivor (male, approx. 70 years old): “After my stroke, I was paralyzed on the right side. I couldn’t walk, speak, or write. Over time, I regained the ability to walk, cycle, and even drive again. Unfortunately, speaking and writing are still difficult. But I keep trying.” Every step forward reminds him that recovery is possible—thanks to the brain’s remarkable ability to adapt and rewire itself, known as neuroplasticity.
For more stories from stroke survivors, visit bletz.lu.
Cognitive reserve: your brain’s savings account
Does today’s neuroplasticity affect how we age tomorrow? Absolutely—and one of the key concepts that helps explain this is cognitive reserve.
Imagine your brain has a savings account. Throughout your life, you make deposits into this account by engaging in mentally stimulating activities, such as learning new things, solving puzzles, travelling, socializing, and staying physically active. These activities build up, what we call, our ‘cognitive reserve’5, much like saving money for the future.
When you face challenges like aging or brain injuries, you can draw from this reserve to help maintain your cognitive functions. Just as a well-funded savings account can help you weather financial difficulties, a robust cognitive reserve can help you cope better with brain changes and maintain mental sharpness. Additionally, higher levels of cognitive reserve have been associated with a lower risk of developing dementia4, as it helps the brain compensate for damage and maintain function despite neuropathological changes.
Neuroplasticity in the workplace
This ability of the brain to reshape itself through repeated experiences doesn’t stop at home or in our personal lives—it extends into our professional environments as well, where the tasks we perform and the challenges we face can significantly influence how our brains develop.
Several studies exist showcasing examples of neuroplasticity and how professional activities shape the brain. For instance, research finds that professional musicians have more developed sound-processing regions in their brains,7 and taxi drivers have more developed regions for spatial memory.8 This adaptability of the brain highlights the potential for continuous learning and improvement in the workplace.
Understanding and leveraging neuroplasticity can lead to significant benefits in productivity and career growth. Engaging in continuous learning, taking on new challenges, and adapting to new technologies can also enhance cognitive flexibility and problem-solving skills at work. Regularly stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing new experiences can strengthen your brain’s pathways, making you more adaptable and innovative in your professional life.
The dark side of neuroplasticity
While neuroplasticity is often celebrated for its role in learning and recovery, it’s important to recognize that not all brain changes are beneficial. This phenomenon, known as maladaptive plasticity, occurs when the brain reorganizes itself in ways that reinforce negative patterns or experiences. For example, in conditions like chronic pain or phantom limb syndrome, the brain’s attempt to adapt can backfire. After a limb is lost, the brain may continue to send signals to the area where the limb used to be, resulting in persistent pain despite the absence of physical injury.9
Maladaptive plasticity can also play a role in addiction, anxiety disorders, and compulsive behaviors, where repeated exposure to certain stimuli or thought patterns strengthens unhelpful neural pathways. Over time, these patterns can become deeply ingrained, making them harder to change.
Understanding this darker side of neuroplasticity reminds us that the brain is always learning—whether we want it to or not. That’s why it’s so important to be mindful of the habits, environments, and thought patterns we reinforce in our daily lives.
But here’s the good news: because the brain is plastic, these patterns can also be rewired. Approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, and targeted rehabilitation techniques harness neuroplasticity to help the brain form healthier, more adaptive connections. In other words, the same mechanism that creates the problem can also be part of the solution.
Conclusion
The brain’s ability to adapt and change, forming new connections and strengthening existing ones is crucial for learning, adapting to new environments, and recovering from injuries. By engaging in mentally stimulating activities, we can build a cognitive reserve that helps us maintain cognitive functions as we age and provides a buffer against cognitive decline, observed for example in brain diseases like dementia.4 Leveraging neuroplasticity can also enhance productivity, adaptability and career growth.
Remember, we compared the brain to a garden earlier. Just as a garden flourishes with regular care and attention, your brain requires mental and physical stimulation to stay healthy and vibrant. The more you invest in nurturing your brain, the more it will flourish, yielding a rich harvest of i.a. creativity, problem-solving skills, and mental resilience. So, keep challenging your brain, stay curious, and never stop learning—your brain will thank you.
- American Psychological Association. (2018). Neural plasticity. In APA Dictionary of Psychology. Retrieved April 4, 2025, from https://dictionary.apa.org/neural-plasticity?s2=P1136618603_1683331208458181917
- Johnston M V., Ishida A, Ishida WN, Matsushita HB, Nishimura A, Tsuji M. Plasticity and injury in the developing brain. Brain Dev. 2009 Jan;31(1):1–10.
- De Sousa Fernandes MS, Ordônio TF, Santos GCJ, Santos LER, Calazans CT, Gomes DA, et al. Effects of Physical Exercise on Neuroplasticity and Brain Function: A Systematic Review in Human and Animal Studies. Vol. 2020, Neural Plasticity. Hindawi Limited; 2020.
- Cramer SC, Sur M, Dobkin BH, O’Brien C, Sanger TD, Trojanowski JQ, et al. Harnessing neuroplasticity for clinical applications. Vol. 134, Brain. 2011. p. 1591–609.
- Stern Y. How Can Cognitive Reserve Promote Cognitive and Neurobehavioral Health? Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology. 2021 Oct 1;36(7):1291–5.
- Livingston G, Huntley J, Liu KY, Costafreda SG, Selbæk G, Alladi S, et al. Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet standing Commission. The Lancet. 2024 Aug 10;404(10452):572–628.
- Olszewska AM, Gaca M, Herman AM, Jednoróg K, Marchewka A. How Musical Training Shapes the Adult Brain: Predispositions and Neuroplasticity. Front Neurosci. 2021 Mar 10;15.
- Maguire EA, Gadian DG, Johnsrude IS, Good CD, Ashburner J, Frackowiak RSJ, et al. Navigation-related structural change in the hippocampi of taxi drivers. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA [Internet]. 2000 Jan 28;97:4398–403. Available from: www.pnas.orgcgidoi10.1073pnas.070039597
- Brown A, Weaver LC. The dark side of neuroplasticity. Exp Neurol. 2012 May;235(1):133–41.
