가만히만 있어도 조용히 망가지는 이유, 뇌 가소성 이야기

0:02 Oh, why are you so absent-minded? I don't want to do anything. How many times a day do you have thoughts like this ? Have you ever not remembered what you had for lunch yesterday? Or maybe you forgot what you were trying to search for . Normally, in times like this, you would just think that you are tired and that it will get better after sleeping. If you know it, it may be a sign that your brain is quietly deleting memories, so you need to be careful so that you don't suffer later . What does this mean? Simply put, our brains are designed to delete unnecessary information when we are doing nothing . Let's go into more detail . As recently as the early 2000s, it was believed that brain cells, once created, never changed. Just like computer parts. So, since

0:48 brain cells no longer regenerate once they become adults and once damaged they cannot be restored, it was thought that patients with brain damage would not recover cognitive function in studies. However, research has shown that this hypothesis is completely wrong. According to research by Dr. Michael Merzenich, a Kavli Prize winner, our brains constantly rewire their connections based on experience and learning, and reconfigure and strengthen existing connections between neurons. A boy who had surgery to remove half of his intestines due to a chronic inflammatory disease lost most of his motor and speech abilities after the surgery, but with rehabilitation treatment, he recovered enough to get a job at a restaurant . When I looked into how it was possible, I discovered that the movement was doing the work that the left wheel used to do. So, the

1:34 brain is like a muscle; the more you use it, the stronger it becomes, and if you don't use it, it deteriorates. This is called brain plasticity. What would happen if we could continuously learn information without stopping? Surely, at some point, we will experience information overload. So our brain activates thinking mode when we are not focusing on something. If we were to use a metaphor, DM could be said to be a very capable secretary. When the brain is at rest, it functions to weaken or filter out unimportant information . For example, trivial short-term memories, such as what was for lunch yesterday, are not classified as long-term memories, but rather are relegated to the area where they do not need to be remembered. But why doesn't our brain try to remember everything clearly? If you

2:21 separate all your memories into long-term memories, you will be able to do well on tests and vividly recall even trivial memories . There are several hypotheses as to why the thinking mode works, but to name a few, from an evolutionary perspective, it is said that in order to be energy efficient, memories that do not pose a threat to survival, such as everyday business, are quickly filed away. From a psychological perspective, it is said that when thinking mode is on, past memories are automatically retrieved and those memories are combined to create a story called my own identity . But if the thinking mode becomes excessive, problems arise. If you've been forgetting more often lately, it could be because your thinking mode is interfering with your focused mode . Focus mode is the opposite of thinking mode. It

3:06 is a network of the brain that is mainly activated when we work, plan, and act. What if the thinking mode that activates when you have a blank mind is turned on inappropriately? This immediately causes a loss of concentration. It is said that forgetfulness worsens when the process of recording new information in the brain, such as what you had for lunch yesterday or where you put the car keys, is disrupted . The inability to get out of thinking mode when you should be in focused mode in your daily life is also related to aging. As we age, the white matter and prefrontal cortex, which act as highways for the brain, deteriorate, making it difficult for the brain to switch from resting thinking mode to focused mode . This all has to do with brain plasticity. The problem is that modern society weakens the brain's plasticity . In the early 2000s, when navigation systems were not yet commercialized, we

3:56 had to actively use our brain's spatial perception ability to find our way by looking at signs and remembering the buildings around us. But now, since we only make right turns as instructed by the navigation system, our brain just passively follows the commands. In fact, a study conducted in 2001 on London taxi drivers found that memorizing directions develops the hippocampus, which is responsible for spatial memory. If you repeatedly live a life where you leave your brain to convenience, your brain will weaken unused functions, which can weaken functions such as memory, concentration, and problem-solving skills . The circuits responsible for that function quietly weaken and disappear . Now, I'm going to do a simple test. I would appreciate it if you could follow along slowly. First, find five things you can see where you are right now. Have you found everything? Here are four sensations that touch your hands or body

4:43 . Once you have identified all four sensations, focus on the three sounds you hear . Besides my own voice, I also like sounds like the ticking of a clock, the sound of cars in the distance, or air purifiers . If you've found all the sounds, now try to find two smells that you can smell with your nose . Things like the smell of the clothes you're wearing right now, the air in the room, or the smell of books are also good. If you've found all the smells, try tasting one last thing with your tongue. It just feels good in the mouth. How was it? Do you remember what you were thinking just before watching this video ? You probably wo

5:29 n't remember it, but this test is most effective when you need to switch from thinking mode to focused mode or when you feel overwhelmed by complex thoughts. It acts to block the circuits of anxious or complex thoughts and reduces the burden on the brain by focusing on the sensations in front of you. There are also ways to help with brain plasticity, which is the topic of today's video. It provides healthy stress to the brain. In psychology, the positive stress that comes from doing something appropriately difficult is called eustress. Eustress actually increases plasticity by promoting BDNF, which helps the brain focus and the growth of brain neurons . The way to promote stress relief is very simple. Even just taking a road you've never taken before,

6:15 brushing your teeth with the other hand instead of the one you normally use, or watching a video on a topic you have no interest in for just five minutes can stimulate your brain and promote plasticity. In modern society, we may be leaving our brains in a comfortable automatic mode . But we can protect our brains in very small ways, like the one we're talking about today . Because no matter our age or our circumstances, we have the amazing ability to be flexible and ready to learn and change . Thank you for listening. I would appreciate it if you could give me a like. Yes. [music]