If you want to improve your brain’s cognitive performance, you can do a variety of things. These include exercise, diet, music, and neuroplasticity. But how do you get started? There are many options available, and they all work in different ways. Read on to learn how to improve your brain’s cognitive performance! After all, the brain is a complex, multi-sensory machine. Here are just a few ideas for improving your cognitive capabilities.
Exercise
Regular physical activity improves brain health and functions. Along with maintaining a healthy body weight and strong muscles, exercise can also boost thinking skills. Exercise improves memory, short-term and long-term, and even mood. There are many benefits to exercise for the brain. Listed below are some of the best ways to improve brain health with exercise. But before we get into the specifics of exercise and cognitive benefits, let’s take a look at the benefits of exercise for the body.
Several studies have confirmed the positive effects of exercise on cognition. The most popular ones concern working memory, the ability to deal with ambiguity, and executive central command. Researchers like Kramer, Erickson, and Roig have explored the benefits of physical activity on the brain. Other research shows that even a single workout session can improve the ability to learn and remember motor skills for a longer period of time. However, there are other benefits to physical activity that many people don’t consider.
Diet
Several micronutrients have been linked to improving memory and mitochodrial activity. Alpha-lipoic acid, found in meats, fish, and vegetables, improves cognitive function and has been linked to improving memory in Alzheimer’s disease patients and animal models. Vitamin E is also linked to improved cognition, and decreasing serum levels of vitamin E are associated with poor memory performance in older people. So how can you increase your brain’s health and performance through diet?
Foods high in antioxidants are also associated with improved brain performance. These antioxidants help counteract the negative effects of a high-fat diet and increase the amount of BDNF, which regulates synaptic plasticity. Avocados are the highest-protein fruit and vegetable available and can be substituted for fat in baked goods. Beets are another food rich in nutrients that promote better brain function and great for memory because they reduce inflammation and have cancer-fighting antioxidants. Beets are also great for your health because they help flush toxins from your blood and improve brain function.
Music
Music is known to improve your cognitive function. There are countless benefits of listening to music and some studies show that it can even prevent dementia. Research has shown that learning to play a musical instrument helps build connections in the brain, improving cognitive function and staving off dementia. It has been suggested that music can play a similar role to language in that it soothes, inspires and fortifies neural pathways. The benefits of learning a musical instrument are now being explored in new ways thanks to advances in neuroscience. Neuromusicology is a branch of neuroscience that explores the nervous system’s response to music. It has been shown that music has a profound effect on the brain, activating all regions of the brain.
Music stimulates brain activity and increases local neural efficiency, two essential aspects of cognition. Music also stimulates the prefrontal cortex, which is the access key to memory. In addition, music can improve memory and attention. It’s easy to see how music can improve cognitive performance. But how can it work for Alzheimer’s patients? These researchers are still investigating how this music therapy can improve the condition of dementia patients.
Neuroplasticity
Optimising neuroplasticity is a never-too-late process that benefits people of all ages. This dual process involves preserving the brain and stimulating new nerve cell connections. There’s no single method to improve neuroplasticity, but there are strategies that everyone can employ to promote cognitive longevity. The following are four tips for boosting neuroplasticity:
The brain is most vulnerable during certain stages of development, called sensitive periods. This varies with skill. The University of Missouri defines a sensitive period as the time of overall learning and development. The sensitivity peak in early life continues into adulthood. During this time, people’s brains are more prone to plastic changes. The goal is to promote neuroplasticity and help the brain improve cognitive performance. The process of brain development is an ongoing process that requires exercise, as well as diet.
Board games
Playing board games can improve your brain’s cognitive performance. According to one study, playing strategic games for an hour a day can positively impact the structure and function of the brain. The study also found that people who played more board games at an early age showed less decline in thinking skills. These positive effects may be due to a variety of factors. Board games also serve as a therapeutic method for people with various mental health conditions, such as depression.
When played with others, board games teach teamwork, collaboration, and cooperation. Players learn how to handle competition. However, players must also remain ethical and follow rules of the game to reap the benefits of playing the game. Cheating will ruin the gaming experience. In addition to these positive effects, board games can be fun and improve social bonds. Playing board games after a family meal is a great way to strengthen your family ties.
Talking with others
Research has shown that friendly conversation with others improves your cognitive performance. Often, the best way to solve life’s problems is to discuss them with others. Avoid competitive conversations as much as possible, but be sure to engage in conversations that are both entertaining and helpful. According to University of Michigan psychologist Oscar Ybarra, these conversations boost your brain’s cognitive performance. The benefits of talking to others may be even more profound than you might think.
