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Forgetfulness and inattention are the scourge of our time. Information overload, forced existence in multitasking mode are poorly combined with composure and concentration. But this does not mean that we can only put up with it. Even small efforts can discipline the brain.
1. Don’t rely on new technology
Many do not even try to remember the name of their favorite movie or favorite restaurant. Why try and suffer when you can take a gadget and turn to Google for help? But the secret is that these efforts are very beneficial for the brain.
“There are studies showing that the use of gadgets has a bad effect on the brain, changing its structure and the way it functions,” comments Patrick Fagan, a specialist in consumer psychology, a researcher at Goldsmiths University.
“I recommend that clients turn off email beeps,” organizational psychologist Susan Guest continues. “It’s much more productive to check the box three or four times a day. It is better to read the letters carefully, and not to look at the mail every now and then.
2. Do gymnastics
It would seem, how are physical exercises and brain function related? However, a study conducted at the University of Georgia proved that 20 minutes of aerobic exercise a day is enough to improve brain function.
“Exercise is important for thought processes,” says cognitive neuropsychologist Ashok Jansari. “They support health and improve blood circulation, which means that the brain is more actively supplied with oxygen.”
Swedish scientists have found that the antidepressant effect of running is associated with improved functioning of the brain area responsible for learning and memory.
3. Communicate
Hanging out with friends is somehow not very associated with improved brain function. Actually there is a connection. For example, a study published in the journal PLOS Medicine found that single people were twice as likely to develop dementia.
Social contacts activate mental abilities and stimulate cognitive functions, such as the ability to reason logically, intuition and, in general, mental activity. All this helps to create a reserve of nerve cells and promotes the formation of new neural connections in the brain.
4. Play board games
There are many “brain development/training” apps out there that purportedly help improve concentration and stimulate memory. Scientists are skeptical about this.
Some time ago, 73 leading psychologists and neuroscientists signed an open letter stating that such promises from manufacturers are based on exaggerations and most often mislead the consumer. Instead of improving cognitive function, such applications can harm the brain, reducing the mental and social activity of users.
A good (and cheaper) alternative to these apps are board games like chess or scrabble, which in particular enrich and activate vocabulary. Rarely used words and words with an abstract meaning are stored in different areas of the brain than everyday words. If we hardly use them, the corresponding parts of the brain begin to atrophy.
5. Learn to play musical instruments
“Music has a profound effect on the psyche, as it affects the ancient parts of the brain,” explains Ashok Jansari.
Learning to play a musical instrument develops not only musical, but also verbal and visual abilities. A study conducted at Emory University showed that children who play music have a higher IQ. Adult musicians score higher on various cognitive tests.
But perhaps music does not attract you, then start learning a foreign language. This process is equally beneficial for the brain. For example, a study done at the University of Edinburgh showed that language training can prevent or delay the onset of dementia in older adults.
Source: dailymail.co.uk