Neurogenesis Allows Adult Brains to Change According to the Environment

How pliable is the human brain? Previous beliefs revolved around a static brain – a brain which did not regenerate neurons when old ones were gone. This is the way we used to believe, but now, a new belief contradicts that idea entirely.

A paper called Trends in Cognitive Sciences, written by Princeton University’s Maya Opendak and Elizabeth Gould proposes that neurogenesis, which is the process of regenerating neurons, happens in the hippocampus when the environment changes. This process helps with adaptation when stimulus causes change in both negative and positive ways.

In a recent press release, Opendak stated, “Neurons actually tune the hippocampus according to predicted changes. You can change your brain either by avoiding negative experiences or stimulating positive ones.”