Brain Plasticity and the Flexibility of Young Brains

Young brains have high levels of plasticity, allowing them to modify themselves and rewrite circuitry more easily. This is seen in the example of soldiers sustaining head injuries, where younger soldiers had better outcomes due to their more flexible brains. The brain is compared to the map of Europe, where borders between countries can evolve in many ways. However, with time, the maps become settled into place, just like the brain solidifies. The brain's plasticity decreases with age, but it still remains present in adulthood, allowing for learning, skill acquisition, and neural reconfiguration.