What is neuroplasticity, and why it’s important when considering a child’s development and education?
In short, our brain becomes more rigid with age, and it’s important to form a strong foundation of thinking patterns from early childhood. Trying to learn how to see the world differently, or to behave differently even after 14 years of age means breaking and “fixing” some parts of the foundation. This requires a greater effort and is not as successful as building the right foundation from the start.
Thompson RA, Nelson CA (2001) Developmental science and the media: Early brain development.
Neuroplasticity and age
Neuroplasticity is brain’s ability to change its structure
and function in response to environmental demands through neural connections. Neural changes occur on multiple
levels and on different time scales (from milliseconds to decades) and can be
positive or negative. Positive changes are reflected in improved capabilities
and performance (e.g. acquisition of new skills and knowledge). Negative plasticity
is evident through a decline or loss of functional ability.
Age is the most important factor determining brain’s
capacity to change.
Neuroplasticity is strongest during our first five years of
life, which provides us with the invaluable ability to learn with enormous
ease. We acquire new skills through mere observation, immersion, and
interactions in our social environment.
After the age of 3 our cognitive functions start declining,
and our brain enters a steady “use it or lose it” stage, when established
neural connections become stronger and more permanent through repeated use,
while unused connections weaken and prune off. This is why repetition is the
key to learning mastery.
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