subject: Do habits change your brain? [print this page]
It is true that your habits can change your brain. This is called neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity is the brain's power to change how it works by making new connections between neurons over time. This is how habits change the brain:
Reinforcement of Neural Pathways: When you do the same thing over and over again, the neural pathways that control that behavior get stronger and better at what they do. This means that the brain needs less work to trigger those pathways as the habit is practiced, which makes the behavior more automatic over time.
Building New links: Getting into new habits can help your brain make new links. For example, picking up a new habit or learning a new skill can trigger parts of the brain that are connected to those things, which can help with growth and development.
Changes in Brain Structure: Habits that last for a long time have been shown to change the structure of the brain. For instance, research on artists has shown that regular practice can make certain parts of the brain bigger, including those that handle motor control and sound processing.
Effects on Mood and Emotion Regulation: Mindfulness, exercise, and other good habits can change the brain's emotional regulation areas, which could make you feel better and help you deal with stress better.
Dopamine and Reward Systems: The brain's reward system can also be changed by habits. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter linked to joy and reinforcement that is released when you do things that make you feel good. This can make the habit even stronger.
In general, the brain is very flexible, and the habits we form can have a big effect on how it looks and works over time. In other words, we can successfully improve our mental and emotional health by choosing to have good habits.
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