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# Change and neuroplasticity
- URL: https://www.pigpen.page/change-and-neuroplasticity/
- Published: 2021-03-26T08:40:00.000Z
- Updated: 2025-07-01T11:37:21.000Z
- Description: Just as a brain injury survivor can find hope in neuroplasticity, so can someone rebuilding during and after the pandemic.
- Author: Pauline
- Tags: Brain Injury, #Research, Mental health, #Covid-19, #Import 2024-07-21 13:17

In 2020, as the world adjusted to a pandemic, there were numerous articles on how lockdowns had changed us. The following year, many tried to draw a line under the pandemic and move on.

> Neuroplasticity is [the concept that the brain can rewire itself](https://nrtimes.co.uk/how-new-tech-and-an-old-concept-are-shaping-stroke-care/?ref=pigpen.page).

## Change is inevitable

Often, when things are uncertain, we have a strong desire to get back to the way things used to be. Uncertainty is , well, uncertain. Life is often about becoming comfortable with knowing that we don't know what will happen.

This is familiar to anyone with a brain injury. Too much has happened to a brain injury survivor for them to be exactly who they were before. Instead, there is a pre-injury self and a post-injury self. The difference between these versions of ourselves is known as [self-discrepancy](https://nrtimes.co.uk/why-redefining-who-you-are-after-a-brain-injury-could-be-the-most-important-aspect-of-recovery/?ref=pigpen.page).

I suspect that many will experience self-discrepancy in the months and years around life events. The desire to return to 'normal', to our pre-injury or pre-event self, is strong. But, in some cases, a return will be impossible.

> Life is often about becoming comfortable with knowing that we don't know what will happen

## Neuroplasticity

Just as a brain injury survivor can find hope in neuroplasticity, so can someone rebuilding during and after other trauma. Neuroplasticity is "[the concept that the brain can rewire itself](https://nrtimes.co.uk/how-new-tech-and-an-old-concept-are-shaping-stroke-care/?ref=pigpen.page)". Or, as Dr Seemungal puts it in my brain injury memoir, "[the brain can change in response to training](https://www.routledge.com/Living-with-Mild-Brain-Injury-The-Difficulties-of-Diagnosis-and-Recovery/OConnor/p/book/9780367524081?utm%5Fsource=individuals&utm%5Fmedium=shared%5Flink&utm%5Fcampaign=B011121%5Fdm1%5F1au%5F1aj%5Fd741)."

This makes sense, as change is not new. Change happens all the time. Usually, it causes a little ruckus and then we become used to it. Our brain becomes used to it. This happens on small time scales, for instance the first week after school holidays is a struggle and then a routine sets in. Or it can happen over a longer time, as we become more fluent in a language or adept at a musical instrument.

## Hope for the future

I like the concept of neuroplasticity as it is proof that we can change. Whether we need to adapt to a small thing such as a new exercise routine or something larger like adjusting to a new society, our brains can do it.

Scientists have discovered why [our brains are large.](https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/mar/24/scientists-discover-why-the-human-brain-is-so-big?ref=pigpen.page) We learn more about how brains work, [age](https://www.nrtimes.co.uk/breakthrough-in-understanding-brain-ageing/?ref=pigpen.page), and react to training and injury every day. There is an exciting future in brain research out there.

For now, as we face a rapidly changing world, I’m glad to know that neuroplasticity will help me to adjust.