Our brains are probably the most important factor in any form of performance.  Being able to rise up to a level where we all do our best takes effort.  That effort, thereby, helps in bringing about continued enhancement of one’s level of achievement.

In neuro-plasticity, we now know that the brain continues to grow throughout one’s lifetime.  What was once thought to be “set in stone” no longer holds true.  Just 10 years ago, brain scientists believed that the brain could not grow new nerve cells.  Today we know this is not true.  What is known as neurogenesis, the brain can, in fact, grow new cells.

What is most important is the fact that when a brain becomes damaged, it can rewire itself.  We see this in stroke victims and those that have suffered traumatic brain injury.  Even those people who have lost the ability of one of their sensory inputs (such as vision) can rewire itself to enhance other areas.

Norman Doidge on the brain and neuroplasticity

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFbm3jL7CDI]

Now here’s another aspect of neuroplasticity and how it relates to peak performance.  The more we challenge ourselves, including the environment we are in, the more our brain will change to adapt to it.  The metaphor, “Use it or lose” holds true in this concept.  And the more challenging, the better it is for the brain.

In peak performance, mastery of anything is part of the experience.  And studies have shown that the more intense the experience, the better and faster of mastery of the skill.  Piano players that practice at a high intensity, tend to become masters of the piano versus those that “slaunder along.”  This holds true for all areas of performance and especially physical performance.  Martial artists, for example, that challenge themselves at a high intensity, tend to master the skills faster and better.

Enriched environments tend to create smarter people.  Even in animal studies this holds true.  The greater the experience in the real world tends to bring about greater activity and connections within the brain structure.  If you have the privilege of experiencing different cultures during your lifetime, then you’ll also have much greater brain mass as far as synaptic connections are concerned.  Those that read a lot have a big increase too.  Those that read beyond their area of expertise, really have a bigger increase.  And the biggest combine both knowledge and the practical application of that knowledge.  People with know-how have massive amounts of white matter in their brains.  Again, if they continue to challenge themselves at ever higher levels.  That means new experiences and learning.

What does this mean to you?

You are not what you were born.  You intelligence can increase or decrease throughout your lifetime.  Your brain is not “carved in stone.”  Instead, it remains malleable throughout your life.  You can become more athletic in later stages than you ever had earlier in life.  One of the misnomers I’ve come to understand is what is called “muscle memory.”  This is a false statement, when in fact, it should be called “brain memory” as it pertains to motor behavior.

If you never were able to perform well as public speaker, as another example, your brain can be molded to achieve remarkable success in that arena.

Just know this, what you were 10 years ago is not what you are now.  And what you are now is not what you will be in the future.  You have the ability to change yourself and your brain.  You can become smarter (or dumber).  You can use the power of your mind to help change the structure of your brain.  There are many different brain exercises that you can do.  Make sure you continually challenge your brain with ever-increasing environments.  Learn a new language.  Learn how to paint or draw (if you don’t know how to).  Take a class in a subject you’ve never done before.  Take a dance class.  Learn Tai Chi.  Learn a new martial art.  And this is just barely touching on what you can do.

Furthermore, exercise and good nutrition, is a very important component to the functioning of the brain.  It helps to increase blood flow which helps to create new connections as well as new brain cells.  So get into a regular fitness program and eat very healthy.  Obesity tends to decrease cognitive function of the brain. GET PHYSICALLY FIT so you can get MENTALLY FIT.

Have fun as you challenge yourself and your brain.