It is known that certain experiences and habits kill neurons .

Drinking alcohol, suffering blows to the head, following an inadequate diet and a long etcetera of situations translates into casualties among the neuronal population of our brain, which means that every day we could be losing a few nerve cells.

Neurogenesis: the process of neuronal regeneration

However, not everything is death and destruction in the everyday life of the typical human adult brain: the birth of new neurons also takes place, a phenomenon known as neurogenesis .

Neurogenesis, changing the conception of the brain

For many years it has been believed that the human brain is an artifact that develops during the first months of life and that, when it reaches adulthood, it stops changing. This conception of the brain left the door open to believe that the only possible modifications in our nervous system come through the death of neurons. Obviously, a person’s brain changes after a part of the neocortex is removed, just as it is not exactly the same after a small stroke.

However, neurogenesis is a sign that the brain continues to form once childhood is left behind . The birth of new cells by neurogenesis, which has been proven in an area of a brain structure called the hippocampus and around the lateral ventricles filled with cerebrospinal fluid, implies that new neurons can appear at any time and migrate to other parts of the brain after a few days.

What is neurogenesis for?

Things that happen in the brain on a microscopic level are always very difficult to study, and the phenomenon of neurogenesis is no exception. We know that new neurons appear in adult humans, but we do not know very well in which situations they appear or what exactly they are for . However, in general terms most neuroscientists agree that the birth of new nerve cells plays a role in brain plasticity , that is, the brain’s ability to adapt to new experiences and change over time.

The case of neurogenesis in the hippocampus is particularly interesting in this respect. This brain structure acts as a hinge between present experiences and memory, and is therefore fundamental in the formation of memories and learning.

The birth of more neurons in this part of the brain could mean a greater ability to link past and present, that is, to be able to better adapt to an environment based on previous knowledge. As past experiences form predictors of the future, it is adaptive that the hippocampus always has new neurons ready

If brain plasticity refers to the practically infinite combinatorial possibilities with which neurons send signals to each other, neurogenesis adds more carbon to this whole succession of changes, since makes more neurons involved, compensating to some extent for the effects of neuronal death .

In what contexts are new neurons born?

Neurogenesis does not only affect the processing of novel experiences: it is also subject to changes in the organism in real time. Some situations can trigger the birth of neurons, while others put a stop to it. Of course, it is very complicated to define exactly which situations facilitate neurogenesis and which do not, since the infinite number of experiences that each of us can have and the individual differences that exist between us make this study very complicated.

However, in general it can be said that stress, a sedentary lifestyle and sleep deprivation reduce the appearance of neurons, while voluntary exercise, exposure to cognitively stimulating environments and in general target-oriented behaviour enhance neurogenesis .

Tips to enhance neurogenesis

All of this, translated into everyday life, means that to boost neurogenesis in your hippocampus you should:

  • Sleep well and enough hours not to feel tired the rest of the day.
  • Get moderate exercise and, in general, keep boredom at bay. Neurogenesis seems to be oriented towards adaptive purposes, so try to set yourself realistic and interesting goals.
  • Don’t expose yourself to more sources of stress than you can handle and try not to let it affect you too much. You can try doing meditation.

These are simple and relatively easy steps to follow. The complicated part will be taken care of by your brain’s automatic processes .

Bibliographic references:

  • Hanson, Nicola D.; Owens, Michael J.; Nemeroff, Charles B. (1 December 2011). “Depression, Antidepressants, and Neurogenesis: A Critical Reappraisal. Neuropsychopharmacology.
  • Rakic, P (October 2009). “Evolution of the neocortex: a perspective from developmental biology.” Nature reviews. Neuroscience.