NEUROPLASTICITY

The Ability of the Brain to Reorganize Itself,

Both in Structure and How It Functions

HOW THE BRAIN CHANGES

NEUROGENESIS NEW SYNAPSES STRENGTHENED WEAKENED

New skills and SYNAPSES SYNAPSES
Continuous generation
of new neurons in experiences Repetition and Connections in the
certain brain regions create new neural practice strengthens brain that aren’t used
connections neural connections become weak

NEUROPLASTICITY CAN TAKE PLACE

WHEN CHANGES OCCUR IN:
Properties of
Characteristics of
Membrane and
Dendritic Spines
Ion Channels

Hormonal Activity Microglia Activity

DNA Regulation
and Transcription

Neurotransmitters

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 NEUROPLASTICITY CAN RESULT FROM:

Traumatic Events Stress Social Interaction Meditation Emotions

Learning Paying Attention Diet Exercise New Experiences

THE BRIGHT AND D A R K SIDES

OF NEUROPLASTICITY

Neuroplasticity makes Neuroplasticity means

your brain resilient. the brain is always learning.

Neuroplasticity enables you to But the brain is neutral -

recover from stroke, injury, it doesn’t know the difference
and birth abnormalities. between good and bad.
You can learn new ways It learns whatever is repeated -
of being and responding both helpful and unhelpful
to conflict. thoughts, actions, and habits.
In many cases, you can also Therefore neuroplasticity may
overcome depression, addiction, entrench depressive, anxious,
obsessive compulsive patterns, obsessive, and over-reactive
ADHD, and other issues. patterns.

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© 2016 The National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine