By: Michael Logan
It turns out that brain fitness exercises work in at least three ways, depending on the kind of exercise we are doing, a thinking exercise or a physical exercise, or a computerized training.
Exercize could mean running or lifting weights or practicing one of the new brain exercise programs or monitoring and changing cognitions, which is what Dr. Judith Beck has shown to be effective in her diet solution plan.
The physical exercise of running or lifting weights encourages neurogenesis, or the growth of new brain cells.
The cognitive behavioral exerises that Dr. Beck used have been shown to reduce activation in the fear center of the brain, called the amydala.
Her work was done using fMRI or functional magetic resonance imaging to observe differing levels of activation in folks suffering from a spider phobia.
The activation in the amygdala after a regimen of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT was much reduced.
In other words, folks did not experience as intense a fear response to spiders as they had prior to the CBT training
The computerized brain fitness programs have been shown, depending on which research you are looking at,to improve memory and processing speed in Senior Citizens (IMPACT study) and IQ in folks using a different program.
Another program has been endorsed by educators, and another adopted by a major university basketball team, with their team in the NCAA final four last year.
The work of Buschkall and Jaegge using the dual n back task has indicated that IQ can be improved, and that there may be no upper limit to what can be done in that regard. More training increases your scores.
Of course, high IQ does not translate into fame and fortune, or even successful relationships. Just a cautionary note for the needy.
Physical exercise has an excellent positive impact on the brain.
Since the brain is the organ which needs the most food and blood, any exercise which increases blood flow will have a positive impact on the brain.
Recently I read that exercise is the best antidote that exists to the issue of insulin resistance, a precursor of diabetes.
That is just one of a plethora of benefits that lifting weights or running or walking will have on your brain.
Just to remind everyone that the current recommendations state that you either engage in: a) 30 minutes/day of moderate intensity 5 or more days of the week; or b) 30 minutes per day of high intensity interval training for at least three days of the week.
A general guideling that people can adhere to is that moderate exercise can get you breathing heavy enough that you can still talk but not sing. High intensity would make a conversation a little difficult.
I have been trying out some HIIT workouts at home, using home made tools, except for an exercise ball, and they do make you breathless, but are not complicated. If you can walk up and down stairs, do push-ups, and or crunches, or walk in your neighborhood, you will be able to take advantage of the benefits of physical exercise, including increased neurogenesis, or the growth of new brain cells.
Hopefully you are encouraged to work at whatever level you are comfortable with in order to benefit your brain with physical exercise or cognitive exercise or computerized brain fitness exercises.
About the Author
Michael S. Logan is a brain fitness expert, a counselor, a student of Chi Gong, and licensed one on one HeartMath provider. I enjoy the spiritual, the mythological, and psychological, and I am a late life father to Shane, 10, and Hannah Marie, 4, whose brains are so amazing. http://www.askmikethecounselor2.com
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