410
Can't argue that. (mander.xyz)
submitted 1 year ago by to c/science_memes@mander.xyz
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[–] 30 points 1 year ago (12 children)

I am 29, and so far I didn't really see any mental decline, sometimes even the reverse - I become better at learning certain stuff. Although I am also more aware that I will never be on the level some very talented people are, but it's fine.

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  • [–] 16 points 1 year ago (4 children)

    I don't think this is neuroplasticity, as much as it is having a broader experience to bring to bear. I have so much knowledge and experience with a variety of things that I can apply and relate to new skills to learn things fairly quickly.

    I also find there's a ceiling on my abilities, like you mentioned. I'm never going to learn something to the same depth as someone who learns it as a kid and carries it forwards, things just don't seem to sink deep into intuition and instinct like that, but I can certainly pick up something well enough to enjoy it and enjoy the process of improving at it. I love learning new skills and pushing myself, and I don't mind the idea that that's the way to age gracefully and stay sharp.

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  • [–] 5 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    Not sure about this. People told me I would not be able to learn piano as an adult, but after 5 years of playing 15 - 30 minutes per night I feel like I am about as good as a child or teenager who put in the same amount of time. I am starting to see how people can sight read at full speed (vs me for an intermediate piece I might be able to get 20% speed, with probably poor accuracy).

    I think you might be comparing someone else's 20 - 25+ years of experience (eg, someone who has consistently played piano their whole life) to your ability to pick up a new skill from scratch. There is just a huge time sink for a brand new topic and it takes anyone a ton of time. So if you really wanted to pick up some theoretical physics or something, but are currently bad at math, it might take 15 years just to get to the beginning to really be one someone's level who... Started 15 years ago.

    Unless I guess if there is unlearning time. Like the smarter every day video where they made a reverse turning bicycle that was impossible for people to use unless they spent forever relearning, vs his son who picked it up relatively easy. I think they had to unlearn what they knew so well.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

    Mhm, that's fair. I feel like there is some degree of intuition and utter top level mastery that may be unattainable as an adult. But I'm talking about something like a second language feeling completely natural, or Olympic level mastery of a skill. And that requires a lot more than just being young as well.

    It feels crazy to assert that you can't learn any skill as an adult though. It's absolutely hard to make the time like you could as a kid, but if you make it a priority, I feel like pretty much anything is possible. I certainly think you can learn more than enough to be satisfied and have a great time and impress others and all that good stuff. I don't need to be a prodigy or an Olympian at something to take joy in learning and doing it.

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  • [–] 7 points 1 year ago

    A lot of things are easier to learn when you have a base foundation.

    Also, a lot of skills have interrelated mental pathways, so once you have enough exp with one, learning the other means, you are actually plasticising your brain, less than what you would have, had you learnt the other skill without knowing the first.

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  • [–] 12 points 1 year ago (4 children)

    Played a reflex-based video game against a teenager lately?

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