Richard Davidson, my favorite scientist, continues: “Instead, the brain has a property called neuroplasticity, the ability to change its structure and function in significant ways.” This has important implications for teachers like me who want to understand how people learn. It turns out that every time we learn something new, we change our brains. Our capacity for learning can grow – and so can our IQ. That means that we have solid, science-based reasons to encourage students to persevere, to keep pushing themselves to do difficult work. We have entered period of great optimism in the field of teaching and learning.
Davidson, Richard J. The Emotional Life of Your Brain. Penguin Books, 2012, p. 9.