--- title: "9 Michael Merzenich Quotes - Famous Neuroscientist (Soft-wired)" description: "Michael Matthias Merzenich is an American neuroscientist and professor emeritus at the University of California, San Francisco." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b017/author-michael-merzenich-67305.jpg" --- ![Portrait of Michael Merzenich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b017/author-michael-merzenich-67305.jpg) # Michael Merzenich (1942) Neuroscientist **9** quotes in **103** categories Rate this collection: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet Michael Merzenich is a neuroscientist, best known for *Soft-wired*. ## Quick Facts About Michael Merzenich Born May 15, 1942 Profession Neuroscientist Notable works Soft-wired ## About Michael Merzenich Michael Matthias Merzenich is an American neuroscientist and professor emeritus at the University of California, San Francisco. He took the sensory cortex maps developed by his predecessors and refined them using dense micro-electrode mapping techniques. Using this, he definitively showed there to be multiple somatotopic maps of the body in the postcentral sulcus, and multiple tonotopic maps of the acoustic inputs in the superior temporal plane. ## Quotes by Michael Merzenich > [To learn is to change how you think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/to-learn-is-to-change-how-you-think/) [Michael Merzenich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/284/michael-merzenich-45455_change_to-learn-is-to-change-how-you-think-1055_1055462.png) > [My mantra: Brainless exercise is a lost opportunity for improvement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/my-mantra-brainless-exercise-is-a-lost-opportunity-for-improvement/) [Michael Merzenich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b35/michael-merzenich-45455_brainless_my-mantra-brainless-exercise-is-a-lost-o_272119.png) > [Rather marvelously, the older brain only permits change when it judges that change to be important, rewarding or good for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/rather-marvelously-the-older-brain-only-permits-change-when-it-judges/) [Michael Merzenich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/) [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/michael-merzenich-45455_brain_rather-marvelously-the-older-brain-only_2558834.jpg) > [Learning a new skill can change hundreds of millions of cortical connections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/learning-a-new-skill-can-change-hundreds-of-millions-of-cortical/) [Michael Merzenich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/) [Connections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connections/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/michael-merzenich-45455_connections_learning-a-new-skill-can-change-hundreds_2688954.png) > [My brain power depends on my retained mastery of analyzing in detail what's happening in my world and in my mind and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/my-brain-power-depends-on-my-retained-mastery-of-analyzing-in-detail/) [Michael Merzenich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/) [Analytic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/analytic/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2f/michael-merzenich-45455_analytic_my-brain-power-depends-on-my-retained-ma_87413.png) > [If a brain is exercised properly, anyone can grow intelligence, at any age, and potentially by a lot. Or you can just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/if-a-brain-is-exercised-properly-anyone-can-grow-intelligence-at-any/) [Michael Merzenich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/) [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/509/michael-merzenich-45455_age_if-a-brain-is-exercised-properly-anyone_2661178.jpg) > [Your brain - every brain - is a work in progress. It is 'plastic.' From the day we're born to the day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/your-brain-every-brain-is-a-work-in-progress-it-is-plastic-from-the/) [Michael Merzenich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df8/michael-merzenich-45455_born_your-brain-every-brain-is-a-work-in-prog_2957579.jpg) > [The patterns of activity of neurons in sensory areas can be altered by patterns of attention. Experience coupled with attention leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/the-patterns-of-activity-of-neurons-in-sensory-areas-can-be-altered/) [Michael Merzenich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d92/michael-merzenich-45455_activity_the-patterns-of-activity-of-neurons-in-s_51023.png) > [The Internet is just one of those things that contemporary humans can spend millions of 'practice' events at, that the average human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/the-internet-is-just-one-of-those-things-that-contemporary-humans-can/) [Michael Merzenich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e2/michael-merzenich-45455_average_the-internet-is-just-one-of-those-things_543822.jpg) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/#itemlist", "name": "Michael Merzenich Quotes", "numberOfItems": 9, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To learn is to change how you think.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Merzenich" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/to-learn-is-to-change-how-you-think/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/284/michael-merzenich-45455_change_to-learn-is-to-change-how-you-think-1055_1055462.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/284/michael-merzenich-45455_change_to-learn-is-to-change-how-you-think-1055_1055462.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/284/michael-merzenich-45455_change_to-learn-is-to-change-how-you-think-1055_1055462.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To learn is to change how you think.” — Michael Merzenich", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My mantra: Brainless exercise is a lost opportunity for improvement.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Merzenich" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/my-mantra-brainless-exercise-is-a-lost-opportunity-for-improvement/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b35/michael-merzenich-45455_brainless_my-mantra-brainless-exercise-is-a-lost-o_272119.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b35/michael-merzenich-45455_brainless_my-mantra-brainless-exercise-is-a-lost-o_272119.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b35/michael-merzenich-45455_brainless_my-mantra-brainless-exercise-is-a-lost-o_272119.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My mantra: Brainless exercise is a lost opportunity for improvement.” — Michael Merzenich", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Rather marvelously, the older brain only permits change when it judges that change to be important, rewarding or good for it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Merzenich" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/rather-marvelously-the-older-brain-only-permits-change-when-it-judges/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/michael-merzenich-45455_brain_rather-marvelously-the-older-brain-only_2558834.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/michael-merzenich-45455_brain_rather-marvelously-the-older-brain-only_2558834.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5f3/michael-merzenich-45455_brain_rather-marvelously-the-older-brain-only_2558834.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Rather marvelously, the older brain only permits change when it judges that change to be important…” — Michael Merzenich", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Learning a new skill can change hundreds of millions of cortical connections.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Merzenich" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/learning-a-new-skill-can-change-hundreds-of-millions-of-cortical/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/michael-merzenich-45455_connections_learning-a-new-skill-can-change-hundreds_2688954.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/michael-merzenich-45455_connections_learning-a-new-skill-can-change-hundreds_2688954.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/michael-merzenich-45455_connections_learning-a-new-skill-can-change-hundreds_2688954.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Learning a new skill can change hundreds of millions of cortical connections.” — Michael Merzenich", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 5, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My brain power depends on my retained mastery of analyzing in detail what's happening in my world and in my mind and body. I must continue to practice to retain my constructive and analytic powers. The goal is to be a master of my environment.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Merzenich" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/my-brain-power-depends-on-my-retained-mastery-of-analyzing-in-detail/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2f/michael-merzenich-45455_analytic_my-brain-power-depends-on-my-retained-ma_87413.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2f/michael-merzenich-45455_analytic_my-brain-power-depends-on-my-retained-ma_87413.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2f/michael-merzenich-45455_analytic_my-brain-power-depends-on-my-retained-ma_87413.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My brain power depends on my retained mastery of analyzing in detail what's happening in my world and in my…” — Michael Merzenich", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 6, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If a brain is exercised properly, anyone can grow intelligence, at any age, and potentially by a lot. Or you can just let your brain idle - and watch it slowly, inexorably, go to seed like a sedentary body.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Merzenich" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/if-a-brain-is-exercised-properly-anyone-can-grow-intelligence-at-any/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/509/michael-merzenich-45455_age_if-a-brain-is-exercised-properly-anyone_2661178.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/509/michael-merzenich-45455_age_if-a-brain-is-exercised-properly-anyone_2661178.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/509/michael-merzenich-45455_age_if-a-brain-is-exercised-properly-anyone_2661178.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If a brain is exercised properly, anyone can grow intelligence, at any age, and potentially by a lot. Or you…” — Michael Merzenich", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 7, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Your brain - every brain - is a work in progress. It is 'plastic.' From the day we're born to the day we die, it continuously revises and remodels, improving or slowly declining, as a function of how we use it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Merzenich" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/your-brain-every-brain-is-a-work-in-progress-it-is-plastic-from-the/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df8/michael-merzenich-45455_born_your-brain-every-brain-is-a-work-in-prog_2957579.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df8/michael-merzenich-45455_born_your-brain-every-brain-is-a-work-in-prog_2957579.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df8/michael-merzenich-45455_born_your-brain-every-brain-is-a-work-in-prog_2957579.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Your brain - every brain - is a work in progress. It is 'plastic.' From the day we're born to the day we…” — Michael Merzenich", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 8, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The patterns of activity of neurons in sensory areas can be altered by patterns of attention. Experience coupled with attention leads to physical changes in the structure and future functioning of the nervous system. This leaves us with a clear physiological fact…moment by moment we choose and sculpt how our ever-changing minds will work. We choose who we will be in the next moment in a very real sense, and these choices are left embossed in physical form in our material selves.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Merzenich" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/the-patterns-of-activity-of-neurons-in-sensory-areas-can-be-altered/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d92/michael-merzenich-45455_activity_the-patterns-of-activity-of-neurons-in-s_51023.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d92/michael-merzenich-45455_activity_the-patterns-of-activity-of-neurons-in-s_51023.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d92/michael-merzenich-45455_activity_the-patterns-of-activity-of-neurons-in-s_51023.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The patterns of activity of neurons in sensory areas can be altered by patterns of attention. Experience…” — Michael Merzenich", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 9, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Internet is just one of those things that contemporary humans can spend millions of 'practice' events at, that the average human a thousand years ago had absolutely no exposure to. Our brains are massively remodeled by this exposure-but so, too, by reading, by television, by video games, by modern electronics, by contemporary music, by contemporary 'tools,' etc.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Merzenich" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-merzenich/the-internet-is-just-one-of-those-things-that-contemporary-humans-can/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e2/michael-merzenich-45455_average_the-internet-is-just-one-of-those-things_543822.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e2/michael-merzenich-45455_average_the-internet-is-just-one-of-those-things_543822.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e2/michael-merzenich-45455_average_the-internet-is-just-one-of-those-things_543822.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Internet is just one of those things that contemporary humans can spend millions of 'practice' events…” — Michael Merzenich", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } } ] }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/#person", "name": "Michael Merzenich", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/", "image": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/uploads/sms4s/authors/processed/b017/author-michael-merzenich-67305.jpg" }, { "@type": "ProfilePage", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/#webpage", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/", "name": "Michael Merzenich", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/#person" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/284/michael-merzenich-45455_change_to-learn-is-to-change-how-you-think-1055_1055462.png" }, "description": "Michael Matthias Merzenich is an American neuroscientist and professor emeritus at the University of California, San Francisco.", "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/#breadcrumb" } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Authors", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/authors/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Michael Merzenich", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/" } ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```