The fundamental unit, the microchip of our brains is the brain cell. At birth we have a full complement of of 1 millon million brain cells or neurons. Each of our brain cells has hundreds and thousands of branches or tentacles like those of an octopus. Each of these branches contains thousands of dendrites which are “messengers” and carry every thought, every learning experience and every memory between brain cells. Our brain cells communicate with one another via a communication process known as “neuronal firing.”  When one brain cell releases a chemical while transmitting a message the next brain cell absorbs it. In this manner brain cells communicate with each other and if this communication is frequent, the connection between them strengthens.  Messages that travel the same path in our brain over & over communicate faster & faster. With enough repetition, this communication becomes automatic. That’s why when we practice a new skill new neural pathways are created which allows the brain to be plastic or resilient to be able to pick up the new skill and with enough practice, go into auto-pilot mode.

Neuroscientists in the earlier decades thought of the brain being fixed and could not be regenerated.

In 1930, a Spanish neuroscientist Santiago Ramón y Cajal worked extensively in the area of neuro-anatomy and is known as the Father of Modern Neuroscience. Santiago also went on to win a Nobel Prize for his work and his findings and hand drawn pictures of the brain which are the foundation neuroscientists worldwide. Santiago was one of the earliest neuroscientists who thought about the brain having the ability to change and remain flexible.

“Every man can, if he so desires, become the sculptor of his own brain,” he said, thereby emphasizing what we now call lifelong neuroplasticity.

WHAT IS NUEROPLASTICITY?

The brain’s ability to change and rewire itself throughout life is what we today call Neuroplasticity or Brain Plasticity. The human brain has an incredible ability to reorganize itself by generating new nerve cells and by forming new connections between these nerve cells. Neuroplasticity makes our brains extremely resilient. All new learning in our brain takes place through Neuroplasticity. It includes memory, learning a new skill, recovering from brain damage, ADHD, pulling out of depression, or anxiety.

You might be wondering, what does coaching have to do with the brain and its adaptability. The short answer is EVERYTHING.

As a coach who intends to facilitate changes in a coachees performance, his or her thinking, behavior and beliefs,  needs to understand that neuroplasticity is now emerging as a powerful intervention to help people initiate and maintain sustainable change.The Coaching field  heavily trusts thispromising area of study to help their clients improve their general cognitive performance including learning, memory, and stress reduction capabilities. Executive Coaches in particular use several solution-oriented neuroplasticity exercises with their coachees. Coaches are also tailoring appropriate exercises to meet their clients specific performance enhancement goals.

Want to explore this area of Neuroscience and get details on how coaches use it in their profession? Stay tuned!