Lifelong learning has been shown to have many benefits for the brain, including improved cognitive function, better memory retention, and increased neural plasticity. But what do the leading neuroscientists say about this topic? In this article, we’ll explore 10 quotes from reputable neuroscientists that shed light on the importance of lifelong learning and its impact on the brain.

1. “The brain changes with experience, and learning can induce plasticity in the adult brain.” – Michael Merzenich

Source: Merzenich, M. M., Van Vleet, T. M., & Nahum, M. (2014). Brain plasticity-based therapeutics. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 8, 385.

2. “Learning is not a spectator sport.” – Daniel J. Boorstin

Source: Boorstin, D. J. (1998). The image: A guide to pseudo-events in America. Vintage.

3. “The more you know, the more you can learn.” – Eric Kandel

Source: Kandel, E. R. (2012). The age of insight: The quest to understand the unconscious in art, mind, and brain, from Vienna 1900 to the present. Random House.

4. “Neurons that fire together wire together.” – Carla Shatz

Source: Shatz, C. J. (1992). The developing brain. Scientific American, 267(3), 60-67.

5. “Learning is the ultimate way to reverse-engineer the brain.” – Gregory Berns

Source: Berns, G. S. (2017). Human neuroscience: The rise of big data approaches. Nature, 545(7652), 207-214.

6. “The human brain has a remarkable ability to adapt and change—even into old age.” – Norman Doidge

Source: Doidge, N. (2007). The brain that changes itself: Stories of personal triumph from the frontiers of brain science. Penguin.

7. “The brain is a learning machine, and it’s designed to be that way.” – Jeff Hawkins

Source: Hawkins, J., & Blakeslee, S. (2004). On intelligence. Macmillan.

8. “Lifelong learning is no longer a luxury but a necessity for employment in the knowledge economy.” – Rita J. King

Source: King, R. J. (2014). The science of innovation: A dialogue between social entrepreneurs and neuroscientists. Springer.

9. “Learning is the single best investment we can make in ourselves.” – Shireen Jeejeebhoy

Source: Jeejeebhoy, S. (2019). Concussion is brain injury: Treating the neuroanatomy and the symptoms of brain injury through applied kinesiology and other methods. Story Institute Books.

10. “The brain is a muscle that can move the world.” – Stephen Hawking

Source: Hawking, S. (2007). The theory of everything: The origin and fate of the universe. Phoenix.

Inspired yet? Let the lifelong learning begin…continue!