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Before we discuss how exactly the brain plays into mindset, let's clarify the meaning of mindset.

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, mindset can be defined as a person's way of thinking and their opinions. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines mindset as a mental attitude or inclination.

Ultimately, a mindset is a set of beliefs that shapes how a person perceives themselves and the surrounding world. Your mindset affects how you feel, think, and behave. Your mindset plays an essential role in how open you are to learning opportunities and personal development.

Fixed vs Growth Mindset

There are different types of mindsets, among which the most well-known (and worth comparing) are the fixed mindset and the growth mindset.

The fixed mindset stems from the belief that we are all born with our abilities and talents.

Not good at math? Well, it is what it is! Can't understand physics? Well, you're probably simply not cut out for this.

In short, people with a fixed mindset believe that they are born with their talents and that their ability to grow and learn is static.

On the other hand, a growth mindset, first introduced by psychologist Carol Dweck, fuels the belief that people can learn and grow throughout their lives. Someone with a growth perspective does not believe that they were born with a fixed number of talents. They are open to discovery and not afraid of overcoming challenges.

If they're not good at math, they accept this challenge and continue learning to improve. If they're not good at physics, they try to think out of the box, expand their learning resources, and find new ways to make sense of the subject.

So, why are these two mindsets so important in our discussion about the role of the brain in this? Because they'll be incredibly helpful in illustrating a concept called neuroplasticity.

Neuroplasticity: Rewiring the Brain for Growth

Neuroplasticity is the brain’s remarkable ability to adapt and modify itself in response to various stimuli. This ability is activated in response to:

• An active pursuit of new knowledge

• Acquiring new skills

• Embracing challenges

• Experiencing environmental challenges

• Adapting to sensory deficits

• Recovering from injuries

The discovery of this incredible brain process has shed light on how our brains work and has revolutionized what we know about our ability to change.

And while it was previously thought that neuroplasticity manifests only during childhood, after mere exposure to information, later research found that it actually continues through adulthood. This means that regardless of age, anyone can prompt their brain to form new neural connections. How? By exposing themselves to challenges and maintaining a positive attitude towards new experiences and knowledge!

Here's an example. Let's say that you're trying to incorporate gentle stretching into your morning routine as a replacement for checking your social media accounts. When you wake up and start your stretching session, you're building new neural pathways associated with this activity. Over time and with repetition, these neural pathways become stronger. Because of this, you find it more natural and automatic to stretch in the morning. At the same time, the neural activity associated with your old social media habit gradually weakens, since it is no longer reinforced.

How the Brain Affects Mindset

The way the brain is built and how it operates, particularly in areas such as the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and reward-related circuits, shapes how we handle obstacles, learn from feedback, and sustain motivation. These processes, in turn, contribute to the development of a mindset.

And thanks to neuroplasticity, the habits and beliefs we practice over time promote new neural connections, reinforcing patterns that align with either a fixed or growth mindset.

Neuroplasticity and Mindset

The connection between the brain's neuroplasticity and growth mindset lies in the fact that both highlight our ability to grow. The mindset describes the lens through which we interpret our abilities and face challenges. Neuroplasticity provides the biological foundation that makes those beliefs actionable. In other words, what we believe about our capacity to grow directly influences how the brain wires itself.

Neuroplasticity and the Fixed Mindset

People with a fixed mindset believe that their abilities are innate and unchangeable. When someone operates from this perspective, they are less likely to engage in effortful practice or to see mistakes as opportunities.

And because neuroplasticity relies on repeated effort and exposure to new challenges, a fixed mindset can actually limit the activation of the brain's adaptive potential.

The belief that I can't improve becomes self-fulfilling. Not because the brain is incapable of change, but because the person stops providing the conditions that spark new connections.

Neuroplasticity and the Growth Mindset

By contrast, a growth mindset aligns perfectly with the principles of neuroplasticity. When someone views challenges as opportunities to learn, they are more willing to practice, persist, and reframe setbacks as stepping stones.

These repeated efforts prompt neuroplastic changes. New neural pathways become stronger. Old neural pathways weaken. For example, a student who believes they can improve in math will spend more time problem-solving. This, in turn, reinforces the brain circuits involved in mathematical reasoning. Over time, the brain reshapes itself to reflect the student's effort and persistence.

In this way, mindset is not just a psychological construct. Our beliefs about our capacity to change can influence behaviors and brain processes that enable learning and adaptation.

Brain Regions Involved in the Process

In our discussion about mindset and neuroplasticity, we should mention several key brain regions that play an important role in shaping how we think, learn, and adapt:

• Prefrontal cortex: often called the brain’s control center, this region helps us plan, focus, and make decisions. It’s heavily involved in setting goals, persisting through challenges, and re-framing setbacks (exactly the kind of thinking that supports a growth mindset).

• Hippocampus: this area is vital for learning and memory. Every time we take in new information, the hippocampus helps us process and store it. A growth mindset encourages us to use this region more effectively because we stay open to new learning instead of shutting it down.

• Basal ganglia: this system plays a key role in forming habits. When we first learn something new, we activate the prefrontal cortex. But, as we repeat that activity, the basal ganglia take over and allow us to perform it almost automatically.

Neurotransmitters and Mindset

Neurotransmitters are chemical messages used by neurons to communicate with each other. They play a crucial role in learning and motivation: processes that contribute to the development of a mindset.

Dopamine, for example, is probably the most famous one. It is, after all, known as the feel-good hormone! It is released when we experience something enjoyable or achieve a goal, acting as a reward. That reward then increases motivation and reinforces the behaviors that led to success. When someone has a growth mindset, they are more likely to engage in pursuing activities that cause dopamine release.

Acetylcholine is also worth mentioning. This neurotransmitter plays a key role in attention and learning. It also helps the brain form new neural connections.

And let's not forget about oxytocin, the love hormone. It can help reduce stress and promote long-lasting positive emotions, fostering mental states that support a positive mindset. On the other hand, serotonin makes you feel good about yourself. So, both oxytocin and serotonin play a crucial role in fostering a growth mindset.

Neurofeedback and Its Role in Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity is proof that the brain is not fixed. It can rewire itself throughout life. But how do we actively guide this process? The obvious answer is through learning.

What if we told you that there's a way to visualize how your brain changes by receiving immediate feedback on its activity? This can be done with neurofeedback, a brain training method that allows you to see and influence your own brain activity in real time. By doing so, neurofeedback can support both neuroplasticity and mindset change.

What Is Neurofeedback?

Neurofeedback is a type of biofeedback focused on brain activity. It works by measuring brain signals, usually through non-invasive sensors placed on the scalp or forehead, or through a consumer-grade device incorporating these sensors. These signals are then displayed on a screen in the form of visuals, sounds, or games.

For example, if your brain is calm and focused, you might see a balloon rise smoothly on the screen. If your mind wanders or becomes stressed, the balloon may falter. Given that you receive immediate feedback (positive or negative feedback) on your brain activity, you learn how to regulate it. Or, better said, your brain learns how to self-regulate. Over time, this practice strengthens new neural pathways, reinforcing the ability to stay focused, calm, and resilient.

How Neurofeedback Promotes Neuroplasticity

Neurofeedback directly taps into the brain’s natural capacity to change. Here are some things you need to know about this:

• By seeing brain activity in real time, you become more aware of when you become distracted or stressed, for example. Awareness is the first step in change.

• Each neurofeedback session provides repeated practice in regulating the brain, which reinforces new neural pathways.

• The brain is motivated by feedback. When you succeed (e.g., keeping the balloon rising on the screen), the brain releases dopamine, strengthening the new pattern and encouraging you to repeat it. This is also rooted in a learning technique called operant conditioning, according to which humans are more likely to repeat behaviors associated with positive outcomes.

This cycle mirrors the very principles of neuroplasticity: challenge, repetition, and reinforcement. Neurofeedback acts like a mirror for the brain, showing it how to self-correct and adapt in healthier, more productive ways.

Mendi Neurofeedback: Building a Positive Mindset

One accessible example of neurofeedback technology is Mendi, a wearable device designed for at-home use.

Here’s how it works:

• The headset uses sensors to measure blood flow and oxygenation in the prefrontal cortex, an area crucial for focus, decision-making, and mindset.

• At the same time, you're playing a game on our app that basically requires you to clear your mind and focus on a ball on the screen.

• As you become focused and calm, your prefrontal cortex activity increases. The sensors in the headband register an increase in blood flow and oxygenation to the prefrontal cortex and immediately send a signal to the app, providing you with positive feedback: the ball on the screen rises and your score increases. If you become distracted, the ball goes down.

• This training (if practiced long-term) strengthens neural pathways in the prefrontal cortex, helping you improve focus, emotion regulation, stress management, and other skills associated with this brain area.

Mendi is particularly praised in the industry because it brings research-grade neurofeedback technology (fNIRS) to your home. This way, it makes neurofeedback simple, repeatable, and rewarding. And by using Mendi regularly, you can cultivate the mental habits that support a growth mindset: persistence, focus, and openness to change.

Final Thoughts

Science has made one thing clear: your brain is not fixed, and neither is your mindset. Together, they form a dynamic duo, each influencing the other, and both capable of change at any stage of life. The question is no longer whether you can rewire your brain, but how you choose to do it.

This is where tools like Mendi come in! Mendi allows you to train your brain the way you’d train a muscle at the gym: by practicing, receiving immediate feedback, and reinforcing progress over time. It bridges science and everyday life, helping you strengthen focus, emotional balance, and the growth mindset that unlocks long-term success.

If you’re ready to see your brain in action and take charge of your mindset, investing in a device like the Mendi device could be the first step in a lifelong journey of growth! After all, your future self is being shaped by the thoughts and training you choose today!

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the brain affect mindset?

The brain's structure and functioning, especially in regions like the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and the reward circuits, influence how we respond to challenges, process feedback, and regulate effort and motivation. Because of neuroplasticity, our repeated thoughts, behaviors, and beliefs actually reshape neural patterns, strengthening pathways that support either a growth or fixed mindset.

Where does our mindset come from?

Our mindset comes from early life experiences, cultural messages, feedback from parents/teachers/peers, and also our own interpretations of success and failure, whether we internalize that abilities are fixed or malleable.

What is neuroplasticity?

Neuroplasticity is the brain's capacity to adapt and reorganize itself in response to experiences and learning, which is crucial for personal growth and mindset change.

How does a growth mindset differ from a fixed mindset?

A growth mindset fosters resilience and sees mistakes as opportunities for development, whereas a fixed mindset views abilities as unchangeable. Adopting a growth mindset can lead to continual personal and professional improvement.