Researchers have uncovered a process to reverse the brain’s ageing process which inhibits new learning.
A team from the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence in Germany are studying the decline in brain plasticity, which is the brain’s capacity to rewire itself and adapt to new challenges.
Study lead author Fabian Heim said as we age, our ability to learn new skills, like mastering a foreign language or picking up a musical instrument, seems to fade, due to the decline in brain plasticity, leading to the saying “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”.
“But what if we could rewind the clock on this age-related decline?” Dr Heim said.
He said the team focused on zebra finches, songbirds known for their elaborate vocalizations.
“Like many animals, zebra finches have a critical period for song learning, within their first 90 days of life.
“After this window closes, their brains become less flexible, and inhibitory neurons put the brakes on further learning.”
Dr Heim said using cutting-edge techniques like optogenetics, researchers precisely switched off these inhibitory neurons in adult zebra finches.
“The results were remarkable. The birds, once thought to be stuck with their existing repertoire, began to add new elements to their songs.
“We observed an expansion of the adult animals’ vocal repertoire that was previously thought impossible.”
Dr Heim said the results suggest the brain’s capacity for learning may be far more resilient than previously thought.
“Similar learning windows exist in humans, affecting everything from language acquisition to social development.”
He said if scientists could identify and manipulate the mechanisms that controlled these critical periods, it could open doors to new therapies for neurodegenerative diseases and injuries that impair learning.
