There are, however, some brain functions which improve with age. We actually grow smarter in key areas in middle age which, with longer life spans, now stretches from our mid 40s to our mid to late 60s. In areas as diverse as vocabulary and inductive reasoning, our brains function better than they did in our 20s. As we age, we more easily get the “gist” of arguments. Even our judgment of others improves. Often, we simply “know” if someone or some idea is to be trusted. We also get better at knowing what to ignore and when to hold our tongues.
Fresh thinking about the brain
An old myth in neuroscience is that once a brain cell dies off you can’t replace it. But many studies have now shown, that there is, in fact, brain cell growth throughout life. It continues to develop, and even continues to grow new braincells. So the brain can continue to learn throughout the middle age years and beyond.
Plasticity of the brain
The brain can be changed or molded to suit the needs the concept of “Plasticity” which relates to changes by adding or removing connections, or adding cells. Research has shown that in fact the brain never stops changing through learning.
It is also known that other areas of the brain also increase in size with usage. For example, the finger area in the motor cortex in Braille readers and professional string instrument players is more extensive than in a normal individual.
The ability of the brain to change with learning is what is known as Nero-plasticity.
Remembering names and numbers
Let me now try to answer the question I posed at the beginning how to remember names and numbers.
Repeat it 7 seconds later
Train your mind frequently by repeating to yourself anything you need to remember as quickly as you learn it. This is very useful especially when remembering phone numbers and dates. Repetition is a simple system on how to improve memory power, but it works even for long term memory. Recall it after 7 seconds to store it in memory.
Write it down
Let the paper remember for you. The point is to have use of the information later, and if that’s more easily done by way of an “external memory device” like pen and paper, why not take advantage of these tools? Also, writing things down is another way to more strongly “fix” something in our minds.
Imagine the future use
If you think about how you will use information, you’re more likely to remember it. For example if after learning a new algorithm in a math class you imagine using it during a test, you’ll probably remember it better – particularly when taking a test.
How to improve brain fitness
Consider the brain a muscle. Variety and curiosity is the basis. When anything you do becomes second nature, you need to make a change. If you can do the crossword puzzle in your sleep, it’s time for you to move on to a new challenge in order to get the best workout for your brain.
Brain aerobics
What exactly constitutes a brain aerobic exercise? To qualify as a brainaerobic exercise, the activity
Needs to engage your attention
Must involve two or more of your senses
Must break a routine activity in an unexpected, nontrivial way
Play games
Sudoku, crosswords playing chess or bridge, dancing regularly and electronic games can all improve your brain‘s speed and memory. These games rely on logic, word skills, math and more. These games are also fun. You’ll get benefit more by doing these games a little bit every day — spend 15 minutes or so, not hours.
Meditation
Daily meditation is perhaps the single greatest thing you can do for yourmind/body health. Meditation not only relaxes you, it gives your brain a workout. By creating a different mental state, you engage your brain in new and interesting ways while increasing your brain fitness.
Turn off your television
Television can stand in the way of relationships, life and more. Turn off your TV and spend more time living and exercising your mind and body.
Exercise your body to exercise your brain
Physical exercise is great brain exercise too. By moving your body, your brainhas to learn new muscle skills, estimate distance and practice balance. Choose a variety of exercises to challenge your brain.
Read something different
Branch out from familiar reading topics. If you usually read history books, try a contemporary novel. Read foreign authors, the classics and random books.
Learn a new skill
Learning a new skill works multiple areas of the brain. Your memory comes into play, you learn new movements and you associate things differently. Learning a new language or becoming computer literate is equally good. Reading Shakespeare, learning to cook and building an airplane out of toothpicks all will challenge your brain and give you something to think about.
Make simple changes
We love our routines. We have hobbies and pastimes that we could do for hours on end. To really help your brain stay young, challenge it. Change routes to your destinations, use your opposite hand to open doors, and eat dessert, shave, and brush teeth, texting, using the computer mouse. Writing with the other hand is a useful way of using the non dominant hemisphere to do a component associated with speech usually located in the dominant hemisphere.
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