Learning new words is more than just expanding your vocabulary. It actually helps your brain become more flexible and adaptable. This ability of the brain to change and grow is called neuroplasticity. When you learn new words, your brain forms new connections between nerve cells. These connections help your brain work better and faster, making it easier to remember things and solve problems.
Every time you pick up a new word, your brain has to figure out how it fits with the words you already know. It stores the new word, links it to similar words, and remembers how to use it. This process is like exercise for your brain. Just as lifting weights makes your muscles stronger, learning new words makes your brain stronger and more efficient.
Scientists have found that the brain’s ability to learn and change follows a daily rhythm. There are certain times of day when your brain is more ready to absorb new information. For example, in humans, the best time to learn new things might be in the evening, just before bedtime. This is when the brain is most open to forming new connections and storing memories.
Learning new words also helps your brain stay healthy as you get older. People who keep learning new things tend to have sharper minds and better memory. This is because their brains are constantly building new pathways and strengthening existing ones. Even if you are not a young person, your brain can still grow and improve with practice.
The more you challenge your brain with new words, the better it gets at learning and adapting. This is true for everyone, no matter your age or background. Whether you read books, play word games, or talk with new people, each new word you learn helps your brain become more flexible and resilient.
Sources
https://www.tohoku.ac.jp/en/press/flexible_brain_how_circuit_excitability_and_plasticity_shift_across_the_day.html
https://research.google/blog/introducing-nested-learning-a-new-ml-paradigm-for-continual-learning/
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-64976-w
https://www.ai-futureschool.com/en/biology/understanding-neuroplasticity-in-the-brain.php
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20251111/Study-reveals-how-neural-excitability-and-learning-potential-fluctuate-across-the-day.aspx
https://www.csus.edu/college/health-human-services/center-health-practice-policy-research/_internal/_documents/oct24-the-neuroscience-of-early-brain-development-policy-implications-handout.pdf
