Neuroplasticity and the Learning Brain By Willy Wood

Introduction• Willy Wood, popular speaker and co-author of the book

The Rock 'N' Roll Classroom, has dedicated his career to understanding and sharing how the human brain learns. In this capacity, Willy Wood of Columbia, MO, uses concepts such as neuroplasticity to help educators discover new teaching strategies.

By definition, neuroplasticity refers to the human brain's ability to create new nerve pathways throughout the human lifespan. This allows the brain to learn a new skill, cope with a particular challenge, or adapt to physical changes. The concept is a relatively new one in the field of neuroscience.

Neuroplasticity• The development of neural pathways was thought to

decrease dramatically after age 20, while by age 40, no new pathways could develop.

Fortunately, advancements in medical testing have proved that the brain can generate new cells as well as neural pathways throughout the lifespan. This discovery is important not only for adults, who can now be given confidence in their abilities to break habits or adapt to losses, but also to children whose primary role in society is to learn. In fact, studies have shown that teaching children about the brain's ability to adapt and change can lead to gains in confidence and even in academic performance.