The importance of possessing varied experiences and a broad spectrum of knowledge cannot be overstated. A rich and varied lifestyle not only leads to greater interconnectivity between and within the brain's neuronal networks. The various experiences result in brain plasticity that accrues over time, deepens our understanding of the world and prepares us to navigate uncertainties effectively. A wide array of experiences can often be the key to making innovative and successful decisions, even in the face of unprecedented challenges.
Waqas Ahmed writes in his book The Polymath: “The more diverse one’s knowledge and experiences, the better chance you have at arriving at insightful decisions and creative solutions. It’s the diversity of one’s knowledge, skills and experiences that allows for a unique insight into various fields, and particularly the core field. Ideas and moments of genius emerge from the subconscious fusion of an assortment of thoughts, memories, and cognitive skills.”
And this is because of the greater number of connections between and within the brain's neuronal networks brought by the diversity of one's knowledge and experiences.
The role of the hippocampus in brain plasticity
Scientists have long known that experiences leave a lasting impact on the brain's connectivity. However, a groundbreaking study conducted on mice has shed new light on just how extensive the effects of experiences on the brain can be. At the centre of this study is the hippocampus, a brain region crucial for learning and memory and vulnerable to diseases such as Alzheimer's. It has long been known as a region capable of undergoing structural and functional changes driven by varied experiences, including the generation of new neurons, highlighting its plasticity. Although scientists have learned a lot about individual brain cells and how they work, they still didn't fully understand how these cells worked together to form circuits and how this affected learning and memory.
Testing the impact of experiences on brain plasticity
To test the impact of experiences, the scientists compared brain tissue from two groups of mice. One group lived in normal cages without any extra stimulation, while the other group lived in an "enriched environment" with toys and mazes. They measured the electrical activity of many brain cells at once using a novel approach: a small chip with thousands of electrodes. By studying a small part of the mouse hippocampus, which is similar to the human hippocampus, they were able to learn more about how experiences affect the brain.
An enriched lifestyle boosted brain connectivity
The results were striking: the neurons of mice from the enriched environment showed significantly more interconnectivity compared to the mice raised in standard housing. In other words, a richer experience led to a literal boost in connections within the neuronal networks. These findings strongly suggest that leading an active and varied life can profoundly shape the brain in previously unexplored ways.
Professor Gerd Kempermann, co-leader of the study and an expert in the impact of physical and cognitive activity on brain resilience, emphasizes the significance of these findings. Previous studies relying on single electrodes or imaging techniques like magnetic resonance imaging could only provide limited spatial and temporal resolution. In contrast, the neuroelectronics-based platform allowed the researchers to observe the circuitry at work down to the scale of individual cells, providing a level of detail and understanding never before achieved.
The implications of this study extend beyond the realm of basic neuroscience research. This newfound knowledge about the impact of experiences on brain connectivity could also pave the way for developing brain-inspired artificial intelligence methods. By understanding how prior experiences shape large-scale neural networks, scientists can potentially design more sophisticated and adaptable artificial intelligence systems that mimic the brain's ability to learn and process information.
Implications for leaders and the rest of us
This interconnectivity within and between the brain's neuronal networks is what allows us to think more creatively. Western Reductionist thinking - the tendency to apply narrow logic, data, key performance indicators and quantitative thinking - which spurred business growth and scientific progress in the past is no longer enough.
To develop this enhanced interconnectivity that leads to more creativity, we need diverse experiences, such as hobbies, outside interests, travel, reading fiction, involving oneself in different parts of the organization, etc. Rather than diluting our knowledge, diversification enhances it.
History is replete with examples of people who were experts in different fields and went on to accomplish great things. Steve Jobs, for example, "had a thorough grasp of all aspects of the corporation, ranging from technical engineering and artwork to design to marketing and finance."
Winston Churchill, another example and one of the greatest statesmen of the 20th century, "was also an accomplished soldier, artist and scholar - a 'many-sided genius' according to Queen Elizabeth. He was also a prolific writer who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1953; he wrote a novel, two historical biographies, three volumes of memoirs, several histories and numerous newspaper articles as a war correspondent. As an oil painter, he produced over 100 works ... which have been exhibited worldwide - he even wrote a treatise on painting." Churchill's greatness in leadership has been attributed to the fact that he was a polymath (possessing intellectual or occupational diversity).
In a previous article, I wrote that leaders need more right brain thinking, thinking that looks forward and uses imagination. Not to the exclusion of left brain, reductionist thinking, mind you, but in addition to it. Iain McGilchrist postulates that we need both hemispheres for reason and imagination. And to develop our imagination, we need to engage in diverse experiences.
To sum up, diverse experiences such as hobbies, travel, reading fiction, etc., enhance the interconnectivity between and within brain neuronal networks. The enhanced interconnectivity leads to more creativity and imagination, crucial skills in a rapidly changing world, even in business.
References:
Emery, B. A., Hu, X., Khanzada, S., Kempermann, G., & Amin, H. (2023). High-resolution CMOS-based biosensor for assessing hippocampal circuit dynamics in experience-dependent plasticity. Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 237, 115471. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2023.115471
Waqas Ahmed, 2018. The Polymath: Unlocking the Power of Human Versatility. Chichester, UK: Wiley.
Image by: PIT Bioinformatics Group, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons