Life can be full of surprises, but one thing remains constant: people change. As time goes by, we undergo transformations, much like a fine wine that matures and becomes more refined. However, there are also instances where we may turn sour, like a once-decent vintage that has turned into vinegar.
Perhaps you have experienced this firsthand when reconnecting with an old friend from your school days. You may find yourself wondering what happened to the person you once knew. How is it possible for someone to change so drastically? What is the underlying science behind these transformations?
The answer lies in how our brains evolve over time. From the moment we are born, our brains are constantly forming new connections and adapting to different circumstances. These changes shape our personalities.
Consider a two-year-old child. Although her brain contains the same number of brain cells as an adult, it has twice as many synapses – the connections that transmit information. This is because as we age, we lose synaptic connections that have not been reinforced through repetition. For example, it becomes difficult to mimic or distinguish foreign language sounds because we were not exposed to them during our early years.
This concept applies to personality development as well. The synaptic connections that make us who we are result from all the experiences we have encountered. In other words, every person we meet, every film we watch, and every book we read contributes to shaping our identity.
This phenomenon is known as plasticity, which refers to the brain's ability to learn and adapt through repetition. It is not limited to children alone; adults are also capable of change.
A study conducted by scientists at University College London demonstrated this. They examined the brains of taxi drivers in the city and discovered that they had larger hippocampi – the part of the brain responsible for spatial memory – compared to a control group.
The reason behind this finding is that taxi drivers possess what is known as "the Knowledge" – an extensive memory of London's 25,000 streets, 20,000 landmarks, and 320 different routes, which they acquire during four years of training.
In conclusion, life is indeed unpredictable, but one thing we can count on is that people change. Our brains continuously adapt and form new connections, shaping our personalities along the way. Whether it's the result of childhood experiences or adult learning, our ability to transform and evolve is a remarkable aspect of being human.
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