Learning is facilitated by forming hardwired connections in the brain, which make skills non-interruptible and non-flexible. This can be beneficial for automating tasks like walking and speaking simultaneously. However, automatic skills are also inflexible, limiting the ability to modify behaviors. To behave flexibly, the brain requires effortful control systems. As people age, they have fewer opportunities to step out of their comfort zones and experience new things, which hampers brain plasticity. Exposing oneself to unfamiliar situations is crucial for maintaining adaptability and flexibility in the brain.
There's no such thing as a "normal" brain. And according to Dr. Chantel Prat, a neuroscientist at the University of Washington, that's a very good thing indeed. In her new book, "The Neuroscience of You," Chantel tells readers how their brains got to be the way they are, and today on the show, she explains how to get the most out of the brain you've got.
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