Page 10 - Empowerment Approach Toolkit 2020 MASTER
P. 10

Speeding up our brain signals through practice


      Every time we repeat something, a coating around the trunk of the neuron gets thicker.

      Scientists think that the thicker the coating, the faster
      messages travel to the next neuron.

      That means that the more we repeat something, the easier
      and faster we can do it.

      Neural Circuits: our brain’s road system




                                             Some actions involve lots of neurons firing all at the same time.

                                             We call this a neural circuit. It’s a bit like road system joining
                                             different parts of a city – but instead, the roads are electrical
                                             signals and instead of linking parts of a city, they link neurons.

                                             Every time groups of neurons fire together, the brain circuit gets
                                             stronger and faster.


      Let’s say you practise kicking a football at a goal.

      If you practised again and again, the part of your brain used for kicking accurately would become
      denser – there would be thicker brain circuits and more of them.


                                               www.changingchances.co.uk                                         10
   5   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15