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Everything parents need to know about BDNF. What it is, the role it plays in learning, and how to boost levels.
BDNF Builds Better Brains
How to boost your child’s learning abilities.
What is BDNF?
BDNF is short for brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Basically, BDNF is a protein that is part of the neurotrophin family of growth factor, as the name implies, it is found in the brain. Neurotrophins build and maintain cell circuitry, they are basic material that is needed. Before neurotransmitters can get to work sending signals throughout the brain, the neurotrophic factors (the term factor here refers to a subcategory used to describe the type of protein) need to be in place. You can think of BDNF as the network of cell towers that need to be in place before you can send or receive a call.
The Role of BDNF in Learning
Scientists first started to realize that there was a connection between BDNF and learning from studies connecting movement and the brain. In a study attempting to understand the connection between movement and the brain ( by Carl Cotman), huge changes were seen in the hippocampus. This was unexpected, as scientists thought major changes from exercise would primarily appear in the motor cortex and cerebellum. This was significant information because the hippocampus is involved with the learning process and the formation of memory.
Prior to that study, scientists knew that BDNF was a powerful protein, but they had not made the connection between that power and the learning process. One example of the power of BDNF is a petri dish experiment. Scientists found that when they added BDNF to a petri dish of neurons, the cells sprouted new branches, the same structural growth that is required for learning.
Learning is all about connections. Connections need material, a host, or structure of some sort, opening the doors for that connection. Our phones need those cell towers or they are useless bits of metal, glass, and plastic. With healthy cell towers, a phone becomes a powerful tool. With healthy levels of BDNF, our neurotransmitters become powerful tools of learning.
