{"id":1032,"date":"2010-12-20T19:33:58","date_gmt":"2010-12-20T14:03:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mohamediqbalp.wordpress.com\/2010\/12\/20\/6-ways-to-boost-brain-power\/"},"modified":"2010-12-20T19:33:58","modified_gmt":"2010-12-20T14:03:58","slug":"6-ways-to-boost-brain-power","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/venusimportexport.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/2010\/12\/20\/6-ways-to-boost-brain-power\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Ways to Boost Brain Power"},"content":{"rendered":"

Scientific American Mind 6 Ways to Boost Brain Power
By Emily Anthes<\/p>\n

Adapted from the book The Instant Egghead Guide to the Mind, by Emily<\/p>\n

Anthes and Scientific American. \u00a9 2008 by Scientific American. Published by<\/p>\n

arrangement with St. Martin\u2019s Press.<\/p>\n

About The Author: Emily Anthes is a freelance science and health writer living<\/p>\n

in Brooklyn. Her work has appeared in Seed, Discover, Slate, New York and the<\/p>\n

Boston Globe, among other publications.
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Amputees sometimes experience phantom limb sensations, feeling pain, itching or other impulses coming from limbs that no longer exist. Neuroscientist Vilayanur S. Ramachandran worked with patients who had so-called phantom limbs, including Tom, a man who had lost one of his arms. Ramachandran discovered that if he stroked Tom\u2019s face, Tom felt like his missing fingers were also being
touched. Each part of the body is represented by a different region of the somatosensory cortex, and, as it happens, the region for the hand is adjacent to the region for the face. The neuroscientist deduced that a remarkable change had taken place in Tom\u2019s somatosensory cortex. Ramachandran concluded that because Tom\u2019s cortex was no longer getting input from his missing hand, the region processing sensation from his face had slowly taken over the hand\u2019s territory. So touching Tom\u2019s face produced sensation in his nonexistent fingers. This kind of rewiring is an example of neuroplasticity, the adult brain\u2019s ability to change and remold itself. Scientists are finding that the adult brain is far more malleable than they once thought. Our behavior and environment can cause substantial rewiring of the brain or a reorganization of its functions and where they are located. Some believe that even our patterns of thinking alone are enough to reshape the brain. Researchers now know that neurogenesis (the birth of new neurons) is a normal
feature of the adult brain. Studies have shown that one of the most active regions for neurogenesis is the hippocampus, a structure that is vitally important for learning and long-term memory. Neurogenesis also takes place in the olfactory bulb, which is involved in processing smells. But not all the neurons that are born survive; in fact, most of them die. To survive, the new cells need nutrients
and connections with other neurons that are already thriving. Scientists are currently identifying the factors that affect the rate of neurogenesis and the survival of new cells. Mental and physical exercise, for instance, both boost neuron survival.
The adult human brain is surprisingly malleable: it can rewire itself and even grow new cells. Here are some habits that can fine-tune your mind.
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Scientific American Mind 6 Ways to Boost Brain Power By Emily Anthes Adapted from the book The Instant Egghead Guide to the Mind, by Emily Anthes and Scientific American. \u00a9 2008 by Scientific American. Published by arrangement with St. Martin\u2019s Press. About The Author: Emily Anthes is a freelance science and health writer living in…
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