Neuroplasticity: The Basics

Plasticity, or neuroplasticity, is the lifelong ability of the brain to reorganize neural pathways based on new experiences. As we learn, we acquire new knowledge and skills through instruction or experience. In order to learn or memorize a fact or skill, there must be persistent functional changes in the brain that represent the new knowledge (Neuroscience for Kids by Erin Hoiland).

Are there changes with life stage? Of course. Could there be trade-offs between talent, experience, wisdom, naiveties, insights, motivation, energy, work ethic, etc. which qualitatively level the Productivity Playing Field between the 18, 28, 58, 88, and 108 year old?

Because all human and market value is ascribed, the answer has to be, at the very least, a qualified yes; such trade-offs surely exist, but have perhaps escaped careful quantification and critical analysis for any number of sociological and technical measurement-challenging reasons. The premise strikes me as worthy of further pursuit, research, and documentation.

old.people.suck

Equal "props" to Old Masters and Young Geniuses

Some may mistakenly glance at this blog as unproductive griping or uncritical complaining. That would signal a sad failure on my part; a failure to be quick to highlight solutions and positive strides, as they emerge.

From PRI's To the Best of Our Knowledge:

Are you an experimental innovator who works by trial and error and is most creative later in life, like Cezanne? Or are you a conceptual young genius like Picasso. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge we'll explore the theory of economics professor David Galenson that those are [at least] two life cycles of artistic creativity. Also British singer/songwriter Nick Lowe. He's been making music since the 1960's but many critics say he's doing his best work right now. And we'll meet Oscar-nominated Millard Kaufman. He's just published his first novel at the age of 90. [Finally,] Amy Gorman is the author of "Aging Artfully," a book with 12 profiles of visual and performing women artists between the ages of 85 and 105 (listen now).

old.people.suck