I have been thinking about an interesting topic (at least to me) lately related to behavioral improvement and change. If you watch a dog outside you will notice that it uses the same few paths to get from place to place more than any other path. This limited path use causes the paths to become more worn over time. Our brains function in a similar manner. When we think about a topic, practice a specific behavior, etc. that path in our neural network becomes "hardened" and over time becomes easier and easier to traverse. This is both good and bad since neural pathways contributing to positive and negative thoughts and behaviors can be created over time.
Over the course of several years, people may not even realize why they react the way they react to certain situations. Obviously the more people are aware of causes the more easily positive behavioral change can be elicited, so this creation of neural pathways, although critical for maintaining skills, memories, gut reactions, etc. can become detrimental at times.
I am interested in understanding how people can re-wire these neural pathways, thereby taking advantage of the pliable nature of the brain's 100 billion neurons. As I thought more about it, I realized that meditation provides a good mechanism for re-wiring since it is an environment in which neurons are activated but can be ignored at the same time. Hopefully over time more positive pathways can be created.
If anyone has heard of research on this please let me know.
