Our brains have the capacity re-shape themselves to change in response to different environmental stimuli. Experience-dependent plasticity provides that mammals brought up in a certain environment have neurons that change so they become tuned to respond more strongly to aspects of that specific environment (Goldstein, 2015). Let’s say there is a dog (A) that was reared in a loving home with a family of four and gets love and attention every day. On the other side of the spectrum, there is the same breed of dog (B) who was born outdoors, reared in the wild, and has to survive on its own. If these two dogs swapped environments, their perception on the new environment and their responses would differ dramatically from their home environment.

If dog A were thrown into the wild after years of living indoors with a family, this particular dog might be extremely scared. This dog was reared in an environment consisting of love, affection and playfulness, but now has to face a complete culture change, find its own food, and protect itself. Dog A has neurons that have been shaped to respond to love and affection from humans, so when it is in the wild and there are no humans, but other animals that may be out to harm him, his feature detectors in his visual cortex may lack some response in defending himself.  Dogs are naturally instinctual, just as humans are, so dog A may adapt very quickly to his exposure, but his first responses to danger or harm may not be as quick in the beginning as they would, say two weeks later. After some conditioning in the wild, dog A’s brain would re-shape and respond better to the new exposed environment.

Now, if dog B were rescued and brought into the family home, it may be dangerous for the family. Dog B has a response of defensive mechanisms to protect him and may result in attacking, biting or growling at the family when approached abruptly. His sensory neuron type is very different from dog A and he is more exploratory, more defensive, and untrained. Maybe the family gives dog B a stick and tries to play with him by taking it and throwing it. When one might try to take the stick, dog B could potentially attack the human because he is familiar with protecting himself from wild animals.  Eventually after continued exposure to the family and some training, dog B would become adapted to respond differently to the particular actions.

This same situation could be related to humans as well, when we forego a complete culture change. When one has a lifetime of experience in the free world, then suddenly goes to jail, their experience-dependent plasticity really gets put to the test. It includes adaptation for the brain’s functioning to be “tuned” to operate best in that certain situation or environment (Goldstein, 2015).  Perception is the outcome of brain receptors and experiences or expectations interacting with one another in different environments (Goldstein, 2015). Dog A and dog B would both adapt to their new environments eventually, but it is hard to say what their perception might be. For humans, one would probably assume jail is like what they have seen on T.V. or in movies, but once in that environment, may adapt either quickly or slowly, or maybe even never fully adapt because our brain receptors tell us that it is just temporary.

It is truly intriguing to become aware of our perception when possible, although it is so automatic majority of the time. When we are consciously aware of what we are experiencing and receiving from our environment, we can change the receptors in our brain to adapt accordingly.

Goldstein, E. B. (2017). Cognitive Psychology: Connecting Mind, Research, and Everyday Experience, 4th Edition. Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning.