For a child, learning is almost effortless. By six years of age, children have a vocabulary of about 14,000 words and assimilate dozens of new words on a daily basis. In contrast, learning a new language as an adult can be a slow and laborious process. We're so familiar with this curious and dramatic difference between the child and the adult brain that we don't even question it. But once we understand the mechanism and reason for the difference we can use this knowledge to our advantage.
A child's brain produces large amounts of a protein known as BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor). BDNF stimulates the brain's center of attention and memory formation. For children, the copious production of BDNF means that their brains are constantly ready to take in new information and form new brain structures.
In late adolescence the body produces a lot more BDNF, so much more that it turns off the brain's attention center. This shutting down effortless learning and constant attention is very important for our life as adults; we'd otherwise get overloaded and find it difficult to discriminate between long term goals and short term distractions.
Scientists have recently demonstrated that the default "off" mode of the adult brain's attention center doesn't mean that we're lumbered with a static brain, or, worse yet, a long, inevitable mental decline. As adults we can reactivate the nucleus basalis by engaging in activities that requires focus and attention. If these activities also produce a sense of accomplishment or pleasure, we have the ingredients for new neural growth and brain plasticity.
Known in the scientific community as neurogenesis and neuroplasticity the ability to rewire the brain provides the foundation for effective brain training. Effective brain training protocols use mental tasks that demand focus and reward that focus via exercises that strengthen memory, processing speed, and problem-solving ability.
The Three Pillars of Brain Training
1. Focus
With mental focus and attention the nucleus basalis produces acetylcholine. Acetylcholine stimulates the brain's long term memory and retention.
2. Mental Challenge
When we feel challenged and rewarded the brain secretes dopamine (the 'happy' chemical).
3. Targeted Training
Acetylcholine and dopamine together stimulate new cell growth (neurogenesis), creating the right conditions for change in the brain's function and structure (neuroplasticity). By simultaneously training core cognitive functions the cell growth and plastic change strengthen and improve those core functions.
Practical Applications of Brain Training
There are many activities that stimulate neural growth and help us stay mentally fit - studying a new language, tackling puzzles and brain teasers, learning a new skill - but while these are relevant and worthy pursuits, they're not as targeted and effective as a carefully designed and scientifically tested brain training exercise.
A well designed brain training program improves cognitive ability using efficient and quantitatively verifiable exercises. The practical applications are many and varied: Learning specialists now work with brain training software to help reverse learning deficits; Senior centers offer brain training resources to their customers, helping to reverse memory loss and delay or prevent the onset of Alzheimer's symptoms or dementia; Schools have begun to introduce brain training as a way of optimizing children's academic study; And individuals have taken to brain training as a way to maintain and improve their mental agility, in some instances even capitalizing on the latest training programs as a way to increase fluid intelligence (problem-solving skills) - a goal once thought unattainable.
Unfortunately, it can be difficult for a consumer to know which brain training products are the right products. Some products billed as 'brain training' programs engage the user in teasers and games that don't have a true scientific foundation. Others may work but cost hundreds of dollars or require a big time commitment.
Before purchasing a brain training program, check the scientific pedigree of the training exercises it incorporates. Does the vendor spell out specifically what the training will accomplish, providing measurable gains in memory or processing ability? And does the product come with a training schedule, telling you how much time you should devote to the exercises and over what period you should train?
And finally, we should remember that the critical ingredients for plastic change are focus and challenge. Just as we don't expect to stay physically fit without breaking a sweat, a truly effective brain training program requires our attention and effort. The rewards, however, can be worth every ounce of that investment. - 15437
A child's brain produces large amounts of a protein known as BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor). BDNF stimulates the brain's center of attention and memory formation. For children, the copious production of BDNF means that their brains are constantly ready to take in new information and form new brain structures.
In late adolescence the body produces a lot more BDNF, so much more that it turns off the brain's attention center. This shutting down effortless learning and constant attention is very important for our life as adults; we'd otherwise get overloaded and find it difficult to discriminate between long term goals and short term distractions.
Scientists have recently demonstrated that the default "off" mode of the adult brain's attention center doesn't mean that we're lumbered with a static brain, or, worse yet, a long, inevitable mental decline. As adults we can reactivate the nucleus basalis by engaging in activities that requires focus and attention. If these activities also produce a sense of accomplishment or pleasure, we have the ingredients for new neural growth and brain plasticity.
Known in the scientific community as neurogenesis and neuroplasticity the ability to rewire the brain provides the foundation for effective brain training. Effective brain training protocols use mental tasks that demand focus and reward that focus via exercises that strengthen memory, processing speed, and problem-solving ability.
The Three Pillars of Brain Training
1. Focus
With mental focus and attention the nucleus basalis produces acetylcholine. Acetylcholine stimulates the brain's long term memory and retention.
2. Mental Challenge
When we feel challenged and rewarded the brain secretes dopamine (the 'happy' chemical).
3. Targeted Training
Acetylcholine and dopamine together stimulate new cell growth (neurogenesis), creating the right conditions for change in the brain's function and structure (neuroplasticity). By simultaneously training core cognitive functions the cell growth and plastic change strengthen and improve those core functions.
Practical Applications of Brain Training
There are many activities that stimulate neural growth and help us stay mentally fit - studying a new language, tackling puzzles and brain teasers, learning a new skill - but while these are relevant and worthy pursuits, they're not as targeted and effective as a carefully designed and scientifically tested brain training exercise.
A well designed brain training program improves cognitive ability using efficient and quantitatively verifiable exercises. The practical applications are many and varied: Learning specialists now work with brain training software to help reverse learning deficits; Senior centers offer brain training resources to their customers, helping to reverse memory loss and delay or prevent the onset of Alzheimer's symptoms or dementia; Schools have begun to introduce brain training as a way of optimizing children's academic study; And individuals have taken to brain training as a way to maintain and improve their mental agility, in some instances even capitalizing on the latest training programs as a way to increase fluid intelligence (problem-solving skills) - a goal once thought unattainable.
Unfortunately, it can be difficult for a consumer to know which brain training products are the right products. Some products billed as 'brain training' programs engage the user in teasers and games that don't have a true scientific foundation. Others may work but cost hundreds of dollars or require a big time commitment.
Before purchasing a brain training program, check the scientific pedigree of the training exercises it incorporates. Does the vendor spell out specifically what the training will accomplish, providing measurable gains in memory or processing ability? And does the product come with a training schedule, telling you how much time you should devote to the exercises and over what period you should train?
And finally, we should remember that the critical ingredients for plastic change are focus and challenge. Just as we don't expect to stay physically fit without breaking a sweat, a truly effective brain training program requires our attention and effort. The rewards, however, can be worth every ounce of that investment. - 15437
About the Author:
Oxford-trained scientist, author, and technologist, Martin G. Walker is a member of The British Neuroscience Association, Learning and The Brain, and MENSA. His company Mind Evolve Software publishes free information on the field of neuroscience and brain training as well as effective and affordable brain training software under the brand name Mind Sparke.
