But it has nothing to do with the brain's 'capacity' to learn new things.
Wonder why it's tougher to learn new things as we grow older? US researchers have concluded that the reason might be our inability to filter and eliminate old information, rather than a limited capacity to absorb new ideas.
Why does it happen?
- According to neuroscientist and study author Joe Z Tsien, when we are young, our brain is able to strengthen certain connections and weaken certain others to make new memories. "It is that critical weakening that appears hampered in the older brain," he said.
- Also, NR2B, a type of neural receptor, is present in a higher percentage among children. This enables the brain cells or neurons to talk a fraction of a second longer and make stronger bonds called synapses (junctions that permit neurons to pass on signals to other cells), thereby optimising the brain's ability to learn and memorise.
- Among the changes that occur in the body when children hit puberty, there is a slightly reduced communication time between neurons. "If you don't get rid of the noise or less useful information, it is a problem," said Tsien. While each neuron averages 3,000 synapses, their continuous exposure to large quantities of information and experiences demands that the brain erase some of the old information to make room for new. This is probably why we lose the ability to speak a foreign language perfectly after the onset of sexual maturity.
Interesting facts about the human brain:
- Scent acts as a powerful memory trigger. The olfactory nerve is located closely to the amygdala — an area of the brain associated with emotional memory — and the hippocampus.
- The hippocampus, a horseshoe-shaped area of the brain, plays an important role in organising and storing information from short-term memory into long-term ones.
- Countless movies and TV shows depict characters suffering from amnesia, losing past memories and identities. However, real-life cases of amnesia are very rare. Also, these depictions are highly inaccurate.
- Neurons develop at the rate of 250,000 per minute during early pregnancy.
