Name a skill that you know now and can do smoothly that you couldn't do when you were born.
How does your brain look different from when you were born, when you were learning that skill, and now?
Share the most important thing you learned from Dr. Merzenich. Why is this learning important to you?
What is something that you would like to learn?
How would learning a new skill improve your life?
Skill: Walking
When I was born: My brain was still developing and I had no control over my body or muscle movements.
When I was learning to walk: My brain was actively forming new neural pathways and strengthening existing ones to help me coordinate my movements and gain balance.
Now: My brain is highly efficient at coordinating my movements and I can walk smoothly and quickly.
Most important thing I learned from Dr. Merzenich: Our brains are highly malleable and can be re-shaped and re-wired through experience. This learning is important to me because it has enabled me to understand how I can continue to learn and grow throughout my life.
Something I would like to learn: I would like to learn a new language, such as Spanish.
How learning a new skill would improve my life: Learning a new language would open up many new opportunities for me, both personally and professionally. It would allow me to communicate with a wider range of people, and it would give me the chance to explore new cultures and experiences.