Question: In the brain, what happens when we learn?

Christina Pagel answered on 26 Jun 2013:

that’s a really hard question!! and still part of active research! but from what I understand (and i’m not an expert on this *at all*), you brain is a huge network of neurons and when they communicate with each other those are (sort of) our thoughts… The stronger a pathway between two neurons the easier it is for us to access that part of the brain… so I think what happens is that when we learn stuff, we either create a new pathway between two neurons (if it’s something completely new) or we strengthen an existing pathway (like if we are building on knowledge we have, or revising)… the stronger the pathway the better we are at that thing, which is why learning makes you better at stuff!