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Neuroplasticity
Reshaping brain pathways
Having the ability to consciously change
the way the brain processes
This is a new uncharted area of science,
the reality is we are only on the tip of the
iceberg to understanding how brain
growth works.
IS There a Magic Brain Work
Out? We know using your
muscles makes you stronger.
Is that the same concept in the brain? Does using your brain make you smarter?
Neural Pathways
Our nervous system
is wired with
millions of neurons
that run in pathways
that connect like a
complex road.
When we learn new
behaviors we make
new paths.
Neural Pathways
The more we use a certain pathway the
more efficient that neural path gets.
Our thought or action becomes faster
and requires less effort.
Forging New Roads
However…to make new pathway it
requires more than the repetition used to
build muscles.
It also requires attention.
Does it carry over?
It seems that the brain works by building
efficiency of one neural path at a time.
Only the one you give attention too.
That basically means there is no
crossover.
For example, doing crossword puzzles
won’t make you less likely to remember
where you put your glasses but it will
make you better at crosswords
Common Attitudes to Meditation
I am going to do this and must get it
right.
I should focus 100%.
I am going to try extremely hard.
Some Benefits of Meditation
Your mind gets stronger and faster.
Increases connections between brain
cells.
Gyrification-linked to processing
information quickly.
STRESS Internally caused
Fears
Repetitive thoughts
Worrying about future events
Unrealistic expectation
Habitual behavior patterns
Overscheduling
Failing to be assertive
Procrastination
Is it easy?
No it isn’t easy to pay attention to our brain
operations.
Instinctually we like to use a very
automatic portion of our brain – the one
that tells us what to do when we feel
threatened.
To form new pathways we have to use a
more complex portion of our brain called
the prefrontal cortex.
Activities that help
This is a very new area of study where
everything is uncharted waters.
Very few things claiming to help the brain
show any evidence in scientific studies.
Except….
However there are a few activities that
show promise to improving overall brain
function and control
Physical exercise
Meditation
Video games?
Confidence is key
Dopamine is the pleasure drug released
by our bodies. It is released when we
are happy or confident.
Studies show that generating new
pathways is more effective if attention is
given to the activity as well as dopamine
is present
If you believe you can do it you will.
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