by Martin G. Walker
Although historians trace the origin of New Year’s resolutions to the ancient Babylonians, the most apt historical symbol for the tradition is probably the Roman god Janus, his two faces looking back over past events and forward to the future. Where have we come from and where would we like to go. With an exciting new leap forward in the capabilities of brain training programs over the past year, this is the perfect time to make brain exercise our New Year’s resolution.
We can improve our brain health with aerobic exercise, weight loss, and by quitting smoking, all good New Year’s resolution candidates. But brain training gives us a very direct way to stimulate brain plasticity, and improve our memory, concentration, and mental sharpness. A recent study even proved that we can increase our fluid intelligence by training our working-memory.
Although scientists had long since dismissed the idea that the adult brain could grow and change, research from the last few years overturns that theory with studies proving quite the opposite. The right conditions can cause the production of new neural nerve cells and the brain in fact proves to be remarkably adept at rewiring connections work more effectively with the right training. (The concept of brain plasticity is even being applied in new therapies for stroke victims, restoring motor capabilities that traditional therapies could not.)
Brain Training Benefits
Education & Problem-Solving: If you′re due to take a standardized test this year, brain training should be part of your test preparation. Established test prep techniques can improve your test scores, but brain training can also increase your general problem-solving ability. And if you suffer from a learning dysfunction, you should know that many learning specialists now use brain exercises to help strengthen particular brain capacities, such as working-memory. While an accommodation can get you through, brain training can tackle the problem directly.
Job Success: Many jobs nowadays involve processing information and solving tricky problems, demanding a high degree of mental focus. Ironically, the daily blizzard of e-mails, meetings and phone calls make it extremely difficult to find and maintain that focus. By using brain training to increase our attention span and train our cognitive skills we can increase our level of productivity and effectiveness in the workplace, enhancing our earning potential.
Long-Term Mental Health: For each decade past the age of forty-five we lose about 10% of our cognitive capacity. Adding brain exercise to our weekly schedule reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer’s symptoms and dementia. Several recent studies have connected brain health with mental health. Effective brain-training creates a virtuous cycle of brain exercise, challenge, reward, and cell growth that helps combat and reduce the impact of depression.
Self-Growth: The recent upsurge in brain training technologies has revealed that brain exercise can lead to improvements in seemingly-unrelated areas - such as musical ability and self-esteem. When we reflect on the brain’s central role in any and all aspects of thinking (including feeling) this begins to make perfect sense. If we’re already engaged in activities such as physical exercise, yoga, reading, therapy, and mindfulness meditation, a program of mental exercise fits right in.
Keeping To Your Resolution
Unfortunately, statistics indicate that most of us won’t stick to our New Year’s resolutions. Men tend to do much better if they quantify their goals. And women can increase their chances of success by going public and by engaging their friends in the challenge. Fortunately, since many people enjoy the challenge and rewards of brain training, it can be an easier activity to stay with than some. You can measure your progress through the results of the exercises, and in many cases you can share your scores on some form of blog or social network.
Before starting your brain training regimen, be sure to select a brain-training program that is proven to promote brain plasticity and will fit into your schedule. Since the brain fitness market is relatively new, price isn’t a particularly good gauge of effectiveness. Some programs provide brain games that don’t require significant focus and attention and won’t stimulate new nerve cell growth. Others cost several hundred dollars and demand a significant time commitment.
Check the scientific pedigree of the training program. Does the vendor specify what the training will accomplish and what measurable gains to expect in memory or processing ability? Does the product come with a training schedule, telling you how much time to devote to the exercises and over what period?
Brain training could be the best New Year’s resolution you’ll ever make. With the right level of commitment it can bring about a big jump in mental ability and set us on the road to long-term brain health.
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.