During the critical period of childhood learning, a child’s brain produces large quantities of a protein known as BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor). This process triggers the nucleus basalis (the brain’s attention center), keeping the brain constantly ready to absorb new memories and skills. Children pay attention to everything… well, almost everything.
In their late teenage years (the end of critical learning period), an adolescent’s brain releases even greater quantities of BDNF, shutting down this ability to effortlessly absorb and retain new information. As adults we need to consolidate the information we’ve absorbed in our growing years. Closing off the critical period prevents us from becoming saturated with too much information, and facilitates decision-making and long-term focus.
Until recently, scientists thought that the adult brain was incapable of growth or change, and that we were resigned to a long, slow mental decline. But recent advancements in brain science have proven that this is far from true. Activities that demand attention reactivate the brain’s attention center. And when we carry out mental tasks that produce a sense of accomplishment, we create conditions under which the brain can grow and change.
[I:http://www.entrepreneurshipwiki.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/MartinGWalker7.png]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. Reward
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
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.
Brain training is relatively new, with such untested products on the market it’s hard to know which ones will achieve the desired results. This presents us with the challenge of first identifying which product is right for us. They range in cost from less than fifty dollars to several hundred dollars, and the variance in efficacy is, if anything, even greater. (Some brain training programs are both affordable and effective.)
Since committing to a program requires time and money it pays to check the scientific credentials of the training. What specifically is it designed to achieve? Has its efficacy been independently tested or proven? Does the vendor specify the degree of improvement you should expect? And does training follow a prescribed timeline with set duration and milestones?
It’s perhaps equally important to remember that brain training requires something from us, too. Plastic change can’t be had without diligence and stamina. To use the analogy of physical fitness, we can’t expect to increase our brain power without breaking a mental sweat. If we are willing to make the investment, however, the rewards will be well worth the effort.
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 Sparke publishes free information on the field of neuroscience and brain training as well as effective and affordable brain training software.
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