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Neuroplasticity is the brain’s capacity to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections

When we encounter a new information, brain fire electrical signal but it cannot jump the physical gap between neurons, so sending-neuron releases chemical messengers called neurotransmitters into the gap. These float across and unlock receptor gates on the receiving-neuron converting the message back into an electrical signal. But for long term potentiation it require better and strong pathway. It happens only when a concept is repeatedly done, the sending-neuron releases more chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) and simultaneously receiving-neuron grow more receptor “gates” to catch them. Which is the process of strengthening pathway called Myelination, which basically coats in a fatty substance called myelin. This thickens the pathway and turns a conscious, task into an automatic habit or retained memory.

I learned this using ChatGPT, asked it to explain about neuroplasticity and learning. What I shared above is very high-level picture of the overall process, but it pains the clear picture that behind every strong pathways there is an effort, a repeated action taken.

I am glad that we have AI, so I don’t have every time read a paper or book to understand something. But at the same time it does play a role in Cognitive Offloading. Cognitive offloading is not a bad thing, for an example we don’t have to perform a complex mathematical calculation by ourself, we can use tools. But it affect us when we replace our reasoning and critical thinking with AI. For an example Why the x system is slow - instead of trying to understand the logic, scope, and reason behind the error, if we hand it over to AI to solve it. We are literally weakening what we already had learned and possibly not learning anything. And another concern is learning happens when we can actually understand it or go through the process of trying to understand, if AI gives us an answer before the brain generates a model then it creates an illusion as I recognize this. Which is related to a concept called Zone of Proximal Development.

That being said, I do enjoy using AI and positive that it can increase the productivity. But I do not want to risk of losing the ability to learn. So I planned that I should write what I learn, which I believe is a good way of evaluating myself.