What happens in the brain when you make a new habit or break an old one Fitness and health17:36 | 16 March 2023

In the earliest stages of habit formation, decision-making regions in the brain are activated. This is the prefrontal cortex. Moreover, all actions in this case take place intentionally. When actions are performed, brain circuits – neural networks – are activated.

The more often you repeat certain actions, the more effective and stronger the neural connections become. This process is called long-term empowerment. And every time you do it to form a habit, you need increasingly smaller signals to activate the same cell network.

Over time, habits become fixed. This happens as one establishes associations and wins prizes. For example, it will be easier to get to work on time if you don’t press the “Snooze” button when your alarm goes off. This is the advantage of a new habit.

As habits get stronger, the decision-making parts of the brain stop firing. As a result, the habit becomes automatic. Accordingly, neural circuits can already perform an action without the participation of consciousness.

But how long does it take to form a habit? It is thought to have been 21 days since the 1960s. However, a study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology found that habits take between 18 and 254 days to form. And on average – about 66 days. However, the results of this study are not yet conclusive.

When it comes to habit breaking, in the brain this process is associated with another form of neuroplasticity. Especially in long-term depression (and this is not a person’s mental health condition). One way to break a habit is to fully understand which cue triggers the habit-related behavior and which reward reinforces the habit.

News cannot be equated with a doctor’s prescription. Consult an expert before making a decision.