Scientists may have discovered a way to make the brain more plastic and improve learning by suppressing a protein called PirB. In experiments with animals, researchers at Stanford found that by disrupting the function of PirB, they were able to make the brain form connections faster and better adapt to changes like using only one eye. Suppressing PirB reverses the brain to a more "plastic" state like in children, allowing it to more easily recover from damage, rewire itself, and learn new skills, effectively making a person smarter.