How many times have you read of some great accomplishment–or just thought in general about the world’s great inventions–and felt a bit dumb? Happens to me all the time, especially when I sit at this computer screen, stroke in a few words, and instantly find answers in any field that interests me. When I board a jet, or Mike’s little plane, or see pictures of our beautiful globe beamed from the heavens, or use my cell phone as I whirl down the highway, or with a thin black cord, suck numbers from my camera into my computer that then shows me pictures I have snapped, and that I then, with the mere push of a button, flick onto the internet and that you, my invisible friends around the world, can see. Yep, I feel dumb…and with my well-working intuitive sense, I suspect at times you may as well.
I bring you good news this morning: Our brains are not through growing. Contrary to long-held beliefs, the brains of adults keep growing, keep expanding, become ever more capable. Great news! I tell you. Move over rocket scientists, we’re after you. 🙂
The Adult brain cells stop growing myth
Since there are still a big number of things we fail to understand about our brain it is somewhat understandable that such theories appear. They turn into myths and thanks to the oh so well documented media everybody thinks that they are true; and such a belief is hard to shatter even when it reffers to something untrue.
This could just be the case here. The fact that after a man has reached adulthood his brain cells stop growing is just not true. Researchers at MIT led by Wei-Chung Allen Lee have showed this. In fact the busting of this myth means proving that adult brain cells, or neurons, are not largely static and that they are able to change their structures in response to new experiences. The study they made showed that the branch-like projections on some neurons, caled “dendrites,” were still physically malleable.
More here at ZME Science
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My devotional blog is here.
Shirley Buxton 
7 replies on “Good News! Our Brain Keeps Growing”
ROCHELLE and DEAN, you both are possessors of such fine brains that the use of your 10 % is more than adequate, and has the rest of us trailing yards behind trying to keep up. 🙂
Merry Christmas
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I thought the ears and the nose were the only things that continued growing in humans. Wow, I must ask the question…. with this larger brain, will I be able to use more of it? Versus the 10% or less that I use now? That would be sweet!
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I had flashbacks of neurology class… someone wake me up, please, and tell me I don’t have to take it again! 🙂 Although, I can’t explain it like I might have been able to a few semesters ago, I will say that I love studying about the human mind. It is an ever present reminder that He is our creator.
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Good evening, ESTHER–
When are you heading for California?
TOMMYJOE–you and your mom are not my invisible friends. You are some of my dear visible ones. Thank you for that.
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Mom & I are both laughing at this picture. It kind of looks like a ball inside some bubble gum. (That was mom’s interpretation.) Glad we’re some of your “invisible friends” referred to in this post!
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What good news! (I laughed at the title of this post!) I feel “somewhat dumb” every day, but there must still be hope for me as now I KNOW my brain is STILL growing. Wooh! Actually, my innermost thought is “I am fearfully and wonderfully made,” and the brain is only a part of that equation. How GREAT is our God!
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That is simple to understand Sis. Buxton. We keep trying to crowd things into our brain that it HAS to grow to hold it all. But, I’m sure there is a limit somewhere down the line. Maybe that is what causes dementia. Ha!
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