Scientists once believed the adult brain was rigid and incapable of change. We now know that learning and experiences constantly reorganize these microscopic connections.

Known as functional plasticity, this allows undamaged brain regions to take over the duties of damaged ones. It serves as a critical mechanism in stroke rehabilitation.

Just like trimming weak branches helps a tree thrive, the brain removes degraded connections to process information faster. This process peaks heavily during adolescence.

Neuroscientists summarize this with the phrase "neurons that fire together, wire together." Repeated actions thicken nerve fibers, making signal transmission much faster.