--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Learning a new skill can change hundreds…" description: "\"Learning a new skill can change hundreds of millions of cortical connections.\" — Michael Merzenich" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/michael-merzenich-45455_connections_learning-a-new-skill-can-change-hundreds_2688954.png" --- # Learning a new skill can change hundreds of millions of… ![“Learning a new skill can change hundreds of millions of cortical connections.” quote by Michael Merzenich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/michael-merzenich-45455_connections_learning-a-new-skill-can-change-hundreds_2688954.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/michael-merzenich-45455_connections_learning-a-new-skill-can-change-hundreds_2688954.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0a/michael-merzenich-45455_connections_learning-a-new-skill-can-change-hundreds_2688954.png) > “Learning a new skill can change hundreds of millions of cortical connections.” [Michael Merzenich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Learning a new skill rewires the brain, creating many new neural pathways and strengthening existing ones. **In simple terms:** New skills reshape brain connections. Key Takeaway Practice regularly to boost brain plasticity. Themes neuroplasticity skill acquisition growth mindset Mood curious optimistic Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - education - rehabilitation - career development - personal enrichment Key Concepts cortical remodeling learning theory Questions to Reflect On - How does consistent practice affect brain change? - What skill would you like to learn for cognitive benefit? A Different Perspective Changes may be limited without sustained practice and proper feedback. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Connections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connections/) [Cortical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cortical-1352371/) [Cortical Connections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cortical-connections-2641535/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Millions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millions/) [Millions Cortical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millions-cortical-2641534/) [New Skill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-skill-410042/) [New skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-skills/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) ## Related quotes > [Every new skill you learn, every adventure you go on, every new thing you try, it only makes you a better artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachele-brooke-smith/every-new-skill-you-learn-every-adventure-you-go-on-every-new-thing/) [Rachele Brooke Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachele-brooke-smith/) > [Training and learning a new skill is all about repetition. With this in mind be careful not to get repetitive to the point of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-cox/training-and-learning-a-new-skill-is-all-about-repetition-with-this/) [Catherine Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-cox/) > [Doing all the rig work and the stunt work has actually been wonderful. It's a whole new skill set that I've learned that I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-clare/doing-all-the-rig-work-and-the-stunt-work-has-actually-been-wonderful/) [Dustin Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-clare/) > [Learning is the new skill. Imagination, creation and asking new questions are at its core.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugata-mitra/learning-is-the-new-skill-imagination-creation-and-asking-new/) [Sugata Mitra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugata-mitra/) > [As each new skill is learned, you will merge it with those previously learned until, one day, you are simply drawing - just as,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-edwards/as-each-new-skill-is-learned-you-will-merge-it-with-those-previously/) [Betty Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-edwards/) > [If you work on a new product launch, spent time in a new geography, or work to develop a completely new skill, you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-d-anthony/if-you-work-on-a-new-product-launch-spent-time-in-a-new-geography-or/) [Scott D. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-d-anthony/) > [“The sensory cortex and visual cortex are far away from each other. How do those tactile neurons “know” (a) that there’s vacant property in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/the-sensory-cortex-and-visual-cortex-are-far-away-from-each-other-how/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“There is a very important lesson for human evolution hidden in figures 9.3 and 12.1. At the cortical level, the three levels of processing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-m-shepherd/there-is-a-very-important-lesson-for-human-evolution-hidden-in/) [Gordon M Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-m-shepherd/) > [In the early Sixties, having begun to describe the physiology of cells in the adult cat visual cortex, David Hubel and I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torsten-wiesel/in-the-early-sixties-having-begun-to-describe-the-physiology-of-cells/) [Torsten Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torsten-wiesel/) > [Being able to do a role where you learn a new skill is just such a dream. I recently played a potter and got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-dynevor/being-able-to-do-a-role-where-you-learn-a-new-skill-is-just-such-a/) [Phoebe Dynevor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-dynevor/) > [It's a new skill to have two children that want you at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariska-hargitay/it-s-a-new-skill-to-have-two-children-that-want-you-at-the-same-time/) [Mariska Hargitay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariska-hargitay/) > [“You will listen to yourself uttering different and pleasant sounds. You will see people astounded around you because of this new skill of yours.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-libertino/you-will-listen-to-yourself-uttering-different-and-pleasant-sounds/) [Antonio Libertino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-libertino/) > [I try to take things that challenge me either physically or mentally, or I have to learn a new skill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-reilly/i-try-to-take-things-that-challenge-me-either-physically-or-mentally/) [John C. Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-reilly/) > [In modeling you rarely get the opportunity to learn a new skill for a project and I love a challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-rowe/in-modeling-you-rarely-get-the-opportunity-to-learn-a-new-skill-for-a/) [Camille Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-rowe/) > [“GIVE A NEW SKILL A MINIMUM OF EIGHT WEEKS”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-coyle/give-a-new-skill-a-minimum-of-eight-weeks/) [Daniel Coyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-coyle/) ## More by Michael Merzenich > [The patterns of activity of neurons in sensory areas can be altered by patterns of attention. Experience coupled with attention leads to physical changes…](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/) > [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…](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/) > [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/) > [The Internet is just one of those things that contemporary humans can spend millions of 'practice' events at, that the average human a thousand…](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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [If a brain is exercised properly, anyone can grow intelligence, at any age, and potentially by a lot. Or you can just let your…](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/) > [Your brain - every brain - is a work in progress. It is 'plastic.' From the day we're born to the day we die,…](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/) [Explore all 9 Michael Merzenich quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-merzenich/) ## More Connections quotes > [I guess at it's very core love is connection that just makes so much sense you wonder how you used to live before you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-stone/i-guess-at-it-s-very-core-love-is-connection-that-just-makes-so-much/) [Benjamin Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-stone/) > [ The social \[media channel\] isn't about beauty contests and popularity contests. They're a distortion, a caricature of the real thing. 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That keeps me pretty grounded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noelle-scaggs/on-the-road-i-try-to-maintain-my-connections-with-friends-and-family/) [Noelle Scaggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noelle-scaggs/) > [I'm from California, but my father, who passed away when I was young, was from Newark. When I was kid, we would go back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-daly/i-m-from-california-but-my-father-who-passed-away-when-i-was-young/) [Carson Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-daly/) > [I'm uninterested in superheroes. I am only interested in real stories, real people, real connection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-lee-curtis/i-m-uninterested-in-superheroes-i-am-only-interested-in-real-stories/) [Jamie Lee Curtis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-lee-curtis/) > [Souls love. That’s what souls do. Egos don’t, but souls do. 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