Recent research on monkeys and other animals shows that the brain continually and dynamically reorganizes itself, even in adulthood.
Old brains can learn new tricks.
For years, scientists believed that connections between the brain's nerve cells, or neurons, develop by early childhood and then become fixed throughout life. In the last decade, however, animal research has revealed that brain areas routinely adjust the way they process information and retain the ability to take on new functions during adulthood. Provide insights into the development of dyslexia and other learning disorders. Offer hope of improved recovery from injury, stroke, and brain disorders through drugs or training regimens. During early development, genes prompt the brain's neurons to form trillions of connections.