When I took up brain training I never expected to find such a strong connection, or any connection, between brain exercise and my happiness level. On days when I'm in a good mood, I do better at the brain exercise; and on days when I do the brain exercise, it makes me feel happier and more relaxed. My fellow brain trainers report the same thing.
Recent scientific research would seem to shed light on both aspects of this phenomenon. Beginning with research performed by Dr. Richard Davidson at the University of Wisconsin in 2005, scientists have consistently found that the brains of those who meditate (such as Tibetan monks in Davidson's study) function differently than normal brains. The firing of neurons is better coordinated and more intense.
On a much more limited, short term scale, this reflects my experience when I am feeling tranquil and at peace during brain training. I can improve my attention further if I close my eyes and breathe deeply between training blocks. The end result is better attention to the exercise and a greater ability to complete the training successfully. On days when I'm feeling stressed or low, my brain can't stay focused and retaining items in working-memory is a struggle.
The researchers also found that the more we practice these skills, the better adapted our brains become, and the more responsive they are to the meditative state.
The second aspect of the relationship between brain-training and a sense of well-being is equally profound and exciting. Two recent studies hone in on the way that depression works on a neural level. One reveals that antidepressants need new nerve cells to be effective. The study by researchers from UT Southwestern Medical Center showed that the effectiveness of anti-depressants in mice depends upon the growth of new nerve cells in the part of the brain known as the dentate gyrus. The other study by German researchers found that stress inhibits new neural cell growth, thereby contributing to depression.
Which brings us back to brain exercise. Two activities are known to stimulate new nerve cell growth in the dentate gyrus: aerobic exercise and working-memory activation. While we've known for decades that aerobic exercise benefits us for many reasons, the finding that brain exercise can not only help keep us sharp but can also help keep us chipper is a welcome discovery.
It's important to note that not all brain exercises produce these benefits to any significant degree. Casual brain teasers or games that don't demand our full focus and attention over an extended period will likely not be much use. The conditions for new nerve cell growth call for intense concentration at a novel and rewarding mental task.
If you're looking for a brain training program, you should see what the vendor says about the training method. Is it based on hard science with proven results? Are the improvements you should expect well defined? Avoid products that make only vague or general references to these things, and those that don't provide a schedule for the product's use.
Most people I suspect don't take up brain training to make themselves happier. And the more we find out about the benefits of demanding brain exercise to our short and long term mental health, the more we would seem to need no other reason to take it up. But it sure is a pleasant side effect. - 16463
Recent scientific research would seem to shed light on both aspects of this phenomenon. Beginning with research performed by Dr. Richard Davidson at the University of Wisconsin in 2005, scientists have consistently found that the brains of those who meditate (such as Tibetan monks in Davidson's study) function differently than normal brains. The firing of neurons is better coordinated and more intense.
On a much more limited, short term scale, this reflects my experience when I am feeling tranquil and at peace during brain training. I can improve my attention further if I close my eyes and breathe deeply between training blocks. The end result is better attention to the exercise and a greater ability to complete the training successfully. On days when I'm feeling stressed or low, my brain can't stay focused and retaining items in working-memory is a struggle.
The researchers also found that the more we practice these skills, the better adapted our brains become, and the more responsive they are to the meditative state.
The second aspect of the relationship between brain-training and a sense of well-being is equally profound and exciting. Two recent studies hone in on the way that depression works on a neural level. One reveals that antidepressants need new nerve cells to be effective. The study by researchers from UT Southwestern Medical Center showed that the effectiveness of anti-depressants in mice depends upon the growth of new nerve cells in the part of the brain known as the dentate gyrus. The other study by German researchers found that stress inhibits new neural cell growth, thereby contributing to depression.
Which brings us back to brain exercise. Two activities are known to stimulate new nerve cell growth in the dentate gyrus: aerobic exercise and working-memory activation. While we've known for decades that aerobic exercise benefits us for many reasons, the finding that brain exercise can not only help keep us sharp but can also help keep us chipper is a welcome discovery.
It's important to note that not all brain exercises produce these benefits to any significant degree. Casual brain teasers or games that don't demand our full focus and attention over an extended period will likely not be much use. The conditions for new nerve cell growth call for intense concentration at a novel and rewarding mental task.
If you're looking for a brain training program, you should see what the vendor says about the training method. Is it based on hard science with proven results? Are the improvements you should expect well defined? Avoid products that make only vague or general references to these things, and those that don't provide a schedule for the product's use.
Most people I suspect don't take up brain training to make themselves happier. And the more we find out about the benefits of demanding brain exercise to our short and long term mental health, the more we would seem to need no other reason to take it up. But it sure is a pleasant side effect. - 16463
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 fitness software under the brand name Mind Sparke.
