Definition: The strengthening or fortifying of connections between brain cells (neurons) and the communication spaces between them (synapses).
Example: "It is like riding a bike".
Insight: The nerve fibres of the brain are basically electrical circuits where impulses flow. When they are strengthened these can turn into physiological activities such as deeper breathing or behaviours that reflect our mood.
Insight: The more we practice something, the more myelination occurs, the more robust those natural impulses become, and less less likely they are to corrode.
Insight: Myelination is the reason why practice builds habits, and habits make actions automatic.
Insight: Myelination explains the benefit of practice and repetition: we reinforce the brain's capacity to remember something and perform, almost without thinking.
Insight: Experts and top performers use the benefits of myelination to build artistry or unique flare atop complex processes that have become automatic because of strong neural pathways.
Insight: Myelination is what differentiates the exceptional, and why proper learning and execution are important from an early age.
Insight: Myelination only works when we break down processes into manageable chunks and we can repeat and work to perfect.
Insight: Bad habits are also the work of myelination.
Insight: Our brains are sufficiently 'plastic' that we can change our skills and behaviours at any age.
Principle: Break down habits (good or bad) into small segments that can be practiced or changed.
Insight: Myelination occurs in early childhood, and the same patterns and developments can be reinforced throughout life, which is why childhood trauma can resurface or be compounded into adulthood.
Insight: Myelination is 80 percent complete by the age of four.
Insight: It is far easier to raise a loved and balanced child than heal a traumatised child.
Insight: The brain's plasticity is greatest in youth, but it doesn't stop.
Insight: Our brains grow in areas which are relevant to areas of practice.
Insight: Myelination is a slow process, and neural pathways are strengthened after significant repetition.
Insight: The brain upgrades its 'wiring' throughout adolescence through myelination.
Insight: The prefrontal cortex, the brain's 'control system', which is involved in processes such as decision making and long term planning, develops through myelination.
Insight: It is important to focus on tasks or skill acquisition, without distraction, in order to isolate neural circuits and trigger myelination.
Insight: The growth of our brains in certain areas during our lifetime does not appear to be due to adding new neurons, but the growth of myelin sheaths around specific neurons where continuous use triggers this process.
Definition: The process in which grey matter (where information processing is done) in the brain becomes white matter (contains myelin and transmits information).
Insight: Sleep is important for myelin production.
Key Insights & Principles
Personal Growth
The repeated practice of specific skills strengthens relevant parts of the brain that help those skills become natural impulses.
Myelination is the reason why good or bad habits become automatic or default.
Myelination is a slow process: expertise requires ongoing practice.
We can change skills and behaviours at any age.
The process of myelination works when we can break processes into manageable, repeatable chunks of skill acquisition.
Myelination is triggered when we focus on something specific, without distraction.
Sleep is important for myelination production.
Practice, and repeat.
Focus without distraction.
Break skill acquisition into manageable chunks and milestones.
Get adequate sleep.
Child Development
Approximately 80 percent of myelination is complete by the age of four.
Raising a balanced human in a positive, loving environment is easier than trying to heal a human that faced childhood trauma.
Brain plasticity is greatest in youth, when it is easier to embed skills and positive habits.
Provide the environment for children to practice good habits and skills without distraction.
Encourage learning through repeated effort, trial and error.
