Neuroplasticity: How to Achieve a Brighter Brain

Inspired by recent research about the plasticity of the brain a wave of brain training programs to help you stay mentally healthy has emerged. Brain-training exercises, brain-healthy foods and activities are offering the possibilities of a younger and more active brain, but what lies behind the supposed benefits? Is the hope that we might be able to shape and create the brain we want a form a magical wishful thinking?

Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain to change with learning and experience. Over the last twenty years, studies have shown that the brain retains its plasticity, and neuroscientists now describe the brain as a plastic, malleable living organ, that can change its own structure and function through activity. The brain could be described as malleable as a lump of wet clay.

Socrates argued that a person could train his mind they way a gymnast trained their muscles, however, until recently the common view was that after childhood the brain does not change. A young person is inquisitive and constantly learns new things, whereas, an older person is less inclined to learn new things because the brain is hardwired, and fixed in form and function. Recent research has shown that the view that adulthood is a time of brain decline is not true.

Scientists now describe the adult brain as capable of change and growth; it can produce new and modified connections, and even new neurons. Some neuroscientists believe that if a part of the brain was damaged, the brain can alter its structure and find a new way to function. The realization that the brain is elastic offers new therapies, and treatment without medication.

Even though the changes in adult brains are far less impressive than those in young brains, the fact that there are the potential for changes provides hope. Learning to perform new and challenging activities can help keep the brain fit. However, brain training programs may not help you to remember where you left the umbrella.

Training in a particular task might help performance in that task, but it does not necessarily improve cognitive function in other tasks. The programs are designed to target specific areas – memory, attention, processing speed, and cognitive control.

You may improve on these games and get a higher score, however, at present there are contradictory results concerning the long-term and cross-over benefits. But is it clear that people improve with time, and the calculated "brain-age" is reduced. If your thinking improves and becomes more focused and quicker than that is good. Some people do report that they find it easier to perform every-day tasks, but so far this has not been proven.

The best advice is to keep learning, and to exercise and eat healthy. Is there such a thing as brain food? The old saying that fish is good for your brain seems to have some truth in it – especially fatty fish like salmon, sardines, mackerel. The tastiest way to feed the brain is perhaps to indulge in dark chocolate. Physical activities have benefits for the hippo campus. This brain structure is important for learning and memory. Research has even shown that it can help your brain create new cells, and more importantly the brain needs oxygen. Heart-healthy seems to be brain-healthy.

Brain activities should teach you something new. To keep the brain strong you must continually develop new skills. The activities should also require your full and close attention. Unfortunately, we rarely engage in tasks in which we must focus our attention as closely as we did when we were younger, and not all activities are equal. Reading the newspaper, or speaking our own language is mostly the replay of skills not learning. Pushing yourself to learn will help to make your brain brighter. New and surprising experiences exercise the brain.

Focusing on things you like to do is a good place to start. It is important to do what you like, and the more motivated you are the harder you will try. If music is you interests why not learn to play a new instrument, or memorise the lyrics of a song and write it down. Next time you visit a museum, pay attention and try to reconstruct the tour by writing or drawing everything you remember. Remembering and thinking help to improve the function of the brain.

The best news is perhaps, that you exercise the brain while you are pondering over how to best train the brain. Be creative and let the mind games begin!