Livewired: A Resource for Understanding Neuroplasticity

Our brains are not fixed, unchanging machines - they are dynamic, constantly reshaping themselves in response to experience. In Livewired, neuroscientist David Eagleman takes us on a fascinating journey into the science of neuroplasticity, revealing just how adaptable the brain truly is. Through compelling research and real-world examples, he challenges outdated notions that our brains are hardwired at birth, instead showing that they are designed to evolve throughout our lives.

As a practitioner deeply invested in brain science and neurofeedback, I love how this book highlights the brain’s potential for change. It reinforces something I see in my work every day: no matter where we start, the brain is always capable of learning, healing, and growing. Let’s dive into some of the key insights from Livewired and explore how they relate to mental wellness, resilience, and the work I do with clients.

The key ideas in the book are:

Brains Are Highly flexible 

The brain is far more adaptable than any computer, continuously reshaping itself in response to experience, injury, and learning. Unlike a rigid machine, it has the remarkable ability to rewire and reorganize its neural pathways as needed. If a specific area of the brain is damaged, other regions can adapt and take on at least some of the lost functions. This process, known as neuroplasticity, allows the brain to compensate for injury and optimize its efficiency.

One striking example of this adaptability is how sensory functions can shift when one sense is lost. If the part of the brain responsible for vision is no longer receiving input (such as in cases of blindness), other senses (like hearing and touch) can strengthen to compensate. The brain doesn’t let valuable neural real estate go to waste; instead, it reallocates resources to enhance the abilities that matter most for navigating the world.

This principle also applies to how the brain maps the body. Each part of the body has a corresponding region in the brain that processes its sensations and movements. However, when a limb is lost, the brain’s map isn’t fixed - it reorganizes. Nearby areas take over the unused space, often amplifying sensitivity in the remaining limbs. The brain prioritizes the pathways that receive the most input, ensuring that we continue to adapt to our environment in the most efficient way possible.

The Brain Has The Capacity to Process Whatever Type of Sensory Information It Is Given

A groundbreaking experiment by neuroscientist Paul Bach-y-Rita in the 1960s demonstrated the brain’s astonishing ability to interpret sensory information in new ways. In this study, a blind man was fitted with a camera mounted on his head. The camera captured visual input and converted it into mechanical vibrations on a grid of Teflon tips placed against his back. Over time, as the varying pressures mapped out different patterns, the man began to recognize shapes and objects - not through sight, but through touch.

While the images he perceived weren’t identical to typical visual experiences, this experiment was a remarkable first step in proving that the brain can repurpose sensory input. Instead of being hardwired to process information in only one way, the brain can adapt, integrating data from alternative sources to compensate for lost abilities. This discovery laid the foundation for modern sensory substitution technologies, demonstrating that the brain is not limited to traditional pathways but is constantly finding new ways to interpret the world.

The Brain Adjusts Based On What Matters Most To It

Did you know that the brains of highly skilled individuals are often shaped differently from those of others? This is not just because of talent, but because they’ve dedicated themselves to years of practice (often the famous ‘10,000-hour rule’) to reach the level of a top-tier athlete, musician, or expert in their field. This prolonged effort leads to the development of highly specialized brain pathways and interconnections that enable exceptional skill.

However, it’s not simply about repeating the same actions over and over again. For true expertise to emerge, the brain needs to engage its neuromodulatory systems, such as acetylcholine, which help process the significance of the training, ensuring the brain understands and prioritizes what’s being learned. But there’s one more key component: motivation. It’s this intrinsic drive that fuels the commitment to continuous improvement. Without a deep sense of motivation to achieve excellence, no amount of training, no matter how long, will lead to the highest level of performance. The combination of neuroplasticity, the proper brain systems, and relentless motivation is what truly shapes the brain of a master

The Brain Stores Predictable or Repeating Information So We Don’t Have to Think About It

When the brain becomes accustomed to certain inputs, it no longer expends energy to focus on them. However, when something new or different occurs, the brain activates to learn and adapt to this change. This ability of the brain to tune out predictable information helps explain how it responds to changes or losses.

For example, imagine you've been working in the same office for several years. Over time, your brain becomes accustomed to the layout, the sounds, and the rhythms of the workday. You no longer consciously think about the familiar environment because it’s become predictable. However, if you were to suddenly move to a new office or change jobs, your brain would be highly engaged in processing all the new information because everything is unfamiliar. This change triggers the brain to pay attention and use more energy to adapt, as it has to relearn what it once took for granted.

This process explains why, when something familiar or expected is no longer present (whether it’s a routine, relationship, or situation), the brain registers this absence and shifts its focus. The brain then has to invest more energy to process this shift, paying greater attention to what’s missing and working to adapt to the new reality.

Brain Plasticity Diminishes As We Age

When we're younger, the brain is still developing and constantly adapting to new information. An excellent analogy David uses is thinking of the developing brain like building a library. In this analogy, the structure of the library (its floors and bookshelves) is built first, and then the books are added. Over time, it’s much easier to change the books than to change the structure itself.

The same concept applies to the brain. When we’re young, it's easier to learn new things, like a new language, because the brain is still building its foundational structures. As we age, our ability to learn new things doesn't disappear, but it becomes more challenging as it takes longer to build new pathways.

The key takeaway here is the importance of keeping the brain active as we grow older. David suggests simple activities that encourage the brain to work harder and adapt. For example, changing the route you drive to familiar places or brushing your teeth in a different pattern each day forces the brain to engage in new ways. As the saying goes, “use it or lose it”! This applies to our brains just as much as it does to our bodies.

Older Memories Survive Longer Than Recent Ones

This concept has been discussed for some time and helps explain why individuals with Alzheimer's or dementia often have difficulty remembering recent events or people they've just met, but can still recall memories from many years ago. It also sheds light on why early trauma can have such a lasting impact into adulthood.

An interesting example from the book highlights a fascinating phenomenon: the old Fisher Price alphabet magnets, popular from the 1960s to the 1980s, which had different colours for each letter. These colourful magnets are the explanation behind why some people later in life associate specific colours with particular letters. It’s a striking example of how early sensory experiences can shape the brain’s pathways and even influence associations long after the initial exposure.

Neurofeedback is all about working with the neuroplasticity of the brain. The brain’s ability to adapt, rewire, and form new connections means that even in the face of trauma, aging, or other conditions and circumstances, there is potential for growth and change. Neurofeedback, a powerful tool that harnesses the brain's capacity for neuroplasticity, helping guide the brain back to a more balanced and efficient state. By training the brain to self-regulate, neurofeedback supports the creation of healthier neural pathways, allowing individuals to overcome past patterns, strengthen new connections, and improve cognitive function. Whether it’s enhancing memory, emotional regulation, or overcoming the effects of early trauma, neurofeedback taps into the brain’s natural ability to heal and grow, offering hope for both new and old challenges.