How Learning Changes the Brain

It's remarkable to consider that we can change our brains just by learning. Here's why:

Our brains are continually active as we go about our daily lives.

As we learn, our brains adapt to reflect the new information we feed them. Our life experiences literally shape our brains as we age. And, since no two people have the same kinds of experiences and learning, no two brains look exactly alike.

Our brains' ability to adjust their structures to reflect life experiences (scientists call this "plasticity") is what enables us to learn—and to change our brains by learning.

William T. Greenough, PhD, a Dana Alliance member and neurobiologist, explains how our brains work: "The adult brain, and even the adult aging brain, is fine-tuned by experience in both its performance and its abilities. [The brain] essentially organizes itself in accord with its experience to prepare for the future. Since one of the best predictors of future needs is past demands, having a brain that is optimally tuned to prior experience is ideal."