Form many years we have a belief that the human brain remained unchanging once
it hit adulthood.
But
in the early 1980s, neuroscientist Michael Merzenich, now a professor emeritus
of neuroscience at the University of California San Francisco, showed through
his research that the brain is plastic. In other words, the brain can alter
itself depending on environmental input.
Below
is Dr. Merzenich's list of everyday things you can do to keep your brain fit.
Exercise Your Peripheral Vision
Actively challenging your peripheral vision improves brain performance and
helps you navigate the world safely.
Recent
studies shows that drivers stay on the road longer and have fewer accidents
after actively training their useful field of view.
Memorize A Song
Developing better habits of careful listening will help your ability to
understand, think and remember, you release brain chemicals like the
neurotransmitter acetylcholine that enable plasticity and vivifies memory.
Reconstructing
the song requires close attentional focus and an active memory.
Learn To Play A New Instrument
Playing an instrument helps you exercise many interrelated dimensions of brain function, including listening, control of refined movements and translation of written notes (sight) to music (movement and sound).
Playing an instrument helps you exercise many interrelated dimensions of brain function, including listening, control of refined movements and translation of written notes (sight) to music (movement and sound).
Don't Rely On Crossword Puzzles And Sudoku
Heavy crossword players show the same rate of cognitive decline as people who do few crossword puzzles.
Heavy crossword players show the same rate of cognitive decline as people who do few crossword puzzles.
Turn Down The Volume On Your Television
Think of this: You can't get rid of radio static by turning up the volume. Many people raise the volume because their listening has become "detuned" - a little fuzzy.
Think of this: You can't get rid of radio static by turning up the volume. Many people raise the volume because their listening has become "detuned" - a little fuzzy.
Matching
TV volume to a conversational level can help you catch every word when talking
with others.
Reacquaint Yourself With The Ball
Practice throwing and catching a ball up in the air.
Practice throwing and catching a ball up in the air.
People
who master these kinds of sensory-guided movement activities can hone their
brain’s visual, tactile and hand-eye coordination responses, with widespread
positive impacts for the brain, this is showen in MRI studies.
Learn To Use Your 'Other Hand'
If you're right-handed, use your left hand for daily activities (or vice-versa) like brushing your teeth and eating.
If you're right-handed, use your left hand for daily activities (or vice-versa) like brushing your teeth and eating.
Doing
such activities can drive your brain to make positive changes.
Choose Bumpy Surfaces
Walking on bumpy surfaces, such as cobblestones, improves the vestibular system of the inner ear, which plays a central role in balance and equilibrium.
Walking on bumpy surfaces, such as cobblestones, improves the vestibular system of the inner ear, which plays a central role in balance and equilibrium.
This
challenge your vestibular system in ways that improve its
function, which translates into better balance -- the key to preventing serious
injuries.
Make A Jigzaw Puzzle
Mentally rotating the shape of each piece in your head helps brain fitness
Mentally rotating the shape of each piece in your head helps brain fitness
Become A Child Again
Start paying attention to the physical world around you. Start noticing things and make an active effort to find new details even in a familiar situation.
Start paying attention to the physical world around you. Start noticing things and make an active effort to find new details even in a familiar situation.
When you stop learning, your brain
stops growing.
- Team Shirsa
- Team Shirsa
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