How Rewiring Your Brain Affects Your Nervous System
Our brains are remarkably adaptable, a concept known as neuroplasticity. This means that through intentional practice—like meditation, cognitive training, or even therapy—we can "rewire" the neural pathways that influence our behaviors, thoughts, and emotions. But what happens when you start rewiring your brain? How does that impact your nervous system, and what does that reaction look like in your body?
Understanding Neuroplasticity and the Nervous System
When you engage in activities that reshape your brain (like learning a new skill, practicing mindfulness, or reframing negative thoughts), you activate the central nervous system (CNS). This system includes your brain and spinal cord and is responsible for processing information and controlling most functions of your body and mind.
Each time you practice a new mental habit, neurons (nerve cells) communicate through synaptic connections. Over time, with repeated practice, these pathways become stronger—a process sometimes called "long-term potentiation." This is the essence of rewiring your brain: reinforcing helpful patterns while weakening the old, unhelpful ones.
How the Nervous System Reacts
When you start changing these pathways, your autonomic nervous system (which regulates involuntary processes like heart rate, digestion, and breathing) can react in different ways:
- Initial Resistance: Your body might resist change at first. This can manifest as increased anxiety or discomfort as your brain’s "wiring" tries to revert to familiar patterns.
- Sympathetic Activation: Stress from change may activate the "fight-or-flight" response (sympathetic nervous system). This can cause symptoms like a faster heartbeat, shallow breathing, or tension in the body.
- Parasympathetic Engagement: Over time, as new neural pathways become familiar, the parasympathetic nervous system (the "rest-and-digest" system) helps restore balance. You may notice increased calm, better sleep, and improved emotional regulation.
Why It Matters
Understanding how rewiring your brain affects your nervous system helps you anticipate—and manage—the temporary discomfort that often comes with change. It reminds us that sticking with new habits can transform not just your brain, but your entire physiology, leading to a more balanced and resilient nervous system.
Sources
- Voss, P. et al. (2010). Neuroplasticity in the aging brain. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.
- Sampaio-Baptista, C., & Johansen-Berg, H. (2017). White matter plasticity in the adult brain. Neuron.
- Hermans, E. J. et al. (2020). The impact of stress on the neural circuitry of emotion regulation. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews.