Also called [Hebbian learning](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebbian_theory). When two neurons are activated simultaneously, the connection between them strengthens.
This is evolutionarily adaptive because most challenges in a living organism's life are repetitive.
Philosophically, this means that thoughts in general have positive loops.
This is echoed by thinkers across history. The Buddha says it in Dvedhavitakka Sutta:
> "Whatever one frequently thinks and ponders upon, that will become the inclination of their mind."
Marcus Aurelius in Meditations:
> "Such as are your habitual thoughts, such also will be the character of your mind; for the soul is dyed by the thoughts."
In [[How to Change Your Mind, Michael Pollan|How to Change Your Mind]], Michael Pollan compares habitual patterns of thought to ski tracks or grooves in snow - the more times you go down a particular mental path, the deeper that groove becomes and the more likely your thoughts are to follow that same track.
#published 2025-02-09