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.
The growing brain produces large quantities of a nerve-growth protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor or BDNF. This protein activates the nucleus basalis, the brain's center of attention and memory formation. Copious BDNF production ensures that children pay attention to everything (except their parents!) constantly absorbing new information and forming new memories and brain structures.
But once we reach our late teens our bodies begin to produce a lot more BDNF, a trigger that shuts down the brain's attention center. While it may seem odd that our bodies put an end to effortless learning, from an evolutionary perspective it makes good sense; having an always on brain as an adult would make it difficult to discriminate between choices and avoid unproductive distractions.
As scientists have shown, however, the adult brain isn't hopelessly cut off from further growth and change. We can reactivate the absorption of new information by engaging in mental tasks that requires focus and attention. When these mental tasks also induce a sense of achievement or satisfaction, we can create the conditions for the growth of new nerve cells and plastic change.
Intense focus at a challenging task results in neurogenesis (new nerve cell growth) and neuroplasticity (rewiring of brain structure). If we activate these processes while training core brain functions (e.g., processing speed, memory, and problem-solving ability) we can strengthen and improve our mental ability.
The Three Steps to Cognitive Improvement
1. Focus
With mental focus and attention the nucleus basalis produces acetylcholine. Acetylcholine stimulates the brain's long term memory and retention.
2. Challenge
When we feel challenged and rewarded the brain secretes dopamine (the 'happy' chemical).
3. Targeted Mental Exercise
Through the release of acetylcholine and dopamine, focus and mental challenge bring about the production of new neural nerve cells and changes in the brain's neural infrastructure. Cell growth and plastic change provide the capability for strengthening and improving core brain functions such as problem-solving ability, memory, and processing speed.
Practical Applications of Brain Training
While a host of activities (card games, puzzles, learning a new skill) can catalyze neural growth and help us stay in good mental shape, these incidental benefits tend to be less pointed and dramatic than we can achieve with a scientifically designed and tested brain training program.
In a practical application, brain training aims to produce reliable and measurable changes in brain function: Learning specialists have begun using targeted training to address and even eradicate learning disabilities; Adults in their forties, fifties and beyond now use brain training programs to help reduce or prevent memory loss as well as delay or prevent the onset of Alzheimer's symptoms or dementia; An increasing number of school systems employ brain training so that children will learn more effectively; And across the world individuals are beginning to seize on the advantages for self-improvement promised by programs that can even increase our problem-solving ability.
Still an emerging market, the brain training industry inevitably churns out some programs that are at best only moderately effective, and at worst pretty near useless. On the other hand, the better programs are founded on excellent science and produce reliable results.
Fortunately, a little due diligence on this front will pay dividends. First, check the scientific basis for the training exercises. It's a bad sign if the marketing material describes the science and benefits of the program in vague or general terms without spelling out what the training is designed to accomplish, and what specifically to expect in terms of improvement. And the vendor should tell you for how long and with what duration you should be training to achieve those gains.
Lastly, it's important to remain aware that even the best brain training program requires our focus and diligence - those essential elements of brain plasticity. As with physical exercise, we can't improve if we don't exert ourselves. But the rewards if we do so will be well worth it. - 16738
The growing brain produces large quantities of a nerve-growth protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor or BDNF. This protein activates the nucleus basalis, the brain's center of attention and memory formation. Copious BDNF production ensures that children pay attention to everything (except their parents!) constantly absorbing new information and forming new memories and brain structures.
But once we reach our late teens our bodies begin to produce a lot more BDNF, a trigger that shuts down the brain's attention center. While it may seem odd that our bodies put an end to effortless learning, from an evolutionary perspective it makes good sense; having an always on brain as an adult would make it difficult to discriminate between choices and avoid unproductive distractions.
As scientists have shown, however, the adult brain isn't hopelessly cut off from further growth and change. We can reactivate the absorption of new information by engaging in mental tasks that requires focus and attention. When these mental tasks also induce a sense of achievement or satisfaction, we can create the conditions for the growth of new nerve cells and plastic change.
Intense focus at a challenging task results in neurogenesis (new nerve cell growth) and neuroplasticity (rewiring of brain structure). If we activate these processes while training core brain functions (e.g., processing speed, memory, and problem-solving ability) we can strengthen and improve our mental ability.
The Three Steps to Cognitive Improvement
1. Focus
With mental focus and attention the nucleus basalis produces acetylcholine. Acetylcholine stimulates the brain's long term memory and retention.
2. Challenge
When we feel challenged and rewarded the brain secretes dopamine (the 'happy' chemical).
3. Targeted Mental Exercise
Through the release of acetylcholine and dopamine, focus and mental challenge bring about the production of new neural nerve cells and changes in the brain's neural infrastructure. Cell growth and plastic change provide the capability for strengthening and improving core brain functions such as problem-solving ability, memory, and processing speed.
Practical Applications of Brain Training
While a host of activities (card games, puzzles, learning a new skill) can catalyze neural growth and help us stay in good mental shape, these incidental benefits tend to be less pointed and dramatic than we can achieve with a scientifically designed and tested brain training program.
In a practical application, brain training aims to produce reliable and measurable changes in brain function: Learning specialists have begun using targeted training to address and even eradicate learning disabilities; Adults in their forties, fifties and beyond now use brain training programs to help reduce or prevent memory loss as well as delay or prevent the onset of Alzheimer's symptoms or dementia; An increasing number of school systems employ brain training so that children will learn more effectively; And across the world individuals are beginning to seize on the advantages for self-improvement promised by programs that can even increase our problem-solving ability.
Still an emerging market, the brain training industry inevitably churns out some programs that are at best only moderately effective, and at worst pretty near useless. On the other hand, the better programs are founded on excellent science and produce reliable results.
Fortunately, a little due diligence on this front will pay dividends. First, check the scientific basis for the training exercises. It's a bad sign if the marketing material describes the science and benefits of the program in vague or general terms without spelling out what the training is designed to accomplish, and what specifically to expect in terms of improvement. And the vendor should tell you for how long and with what duration you should be training to achieve those gains.
Lastly, it's important to remain aware that even the best brain training program requires our focus and diligence - those essential elements of brain plasticity. As with physical exercise, we can't improve if we don't exert ourselves. But the rewards if we do so will be well worth it. - 16738
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.
