2h. Learning & Making Memories

Within your brain, learning and making memories happens all the way down at the level of individual nerve cells. As you learned earlier, the nerve cells in your brain reach out to other nerve cells with branches called dendrites. Each time a signal passes from one dendrite to another, the connection between the two nerves is strengthened. The next time a signal goes between the nerves, the stronger connection allows it to go faster.

You can witness your brain learning this way when you practice a new physical skill, like learning to shoot a bow, mastering a dance move or playing an instrument. At first you have to think about what you’re doing, but as you repeat the movements, the nerves in your brain fire over and over again in the same order. Pretty soon – you can do it smoothly without having to think!