BBC published the results of a ‘brain training’ study in Nature magazine. The show “Bang goes the Theory” funded and conducted a study with 8,600 subjects using a simple set of light-weight computer games, played them for a minimal time and declared to the world that “brain games don’t work”. With so many willing subjects […]
The way our brain stores, maintains and retrieves memory is a fascinating process. It is only recently that neuroscientists and academic researchers are beginning to really understand how this complicated process works. There are three primary ways we process incoming information: sensory memory, short-term (working) memory, and long-term memory. Sensory Memory – Sensory memory is […]
It’s important to remind ourselves of some of the simple ways to improve memory. Here are five methods to improve memory based on scientific research: 1) Sleep – Sleep has long been identified by scientists as the state in which our bodies optimize and consolidate newly acquired information and store it as memory. A new […]
This blog has delivered several articles on ways to keep your memory sharp. Many of you have also inquired about ways to keep your natural energy up throughout the day to help you concentrate better. There are some simple, scientifically proven, things you can do during the course of the day to assist in maintaining […]
Most of us have a general concept of what intelligence is but, similar to the intangible concepts of happiness and love, our personal definition of intelligence is influenced by our own understanding of the concept. We tend to define intelligence in many ways: The capacity to learn The faculty of understanding An aptitude in grasping […]
Barbara Strauch, the Health and Science Editor for the New York Times, was a guest on NPR’s radio program Fresh Air with Terry Gross last week to discuss the topic of the aging brain and promote her book The Secret Life of the Grown-up Brain: The Surprising Talents of the Middle-Aged Mind. During the interview […]
Ever heard the expression “bet you can’t walk and chew gum at the same time”? I didn’t appreciated the extent of its meaning until just last week. At the 3rd International Congress on Gait and Mental Function in Washington DC in February, a series of new research studies were unveiled. One such study, described by […]
Attention is generally defined as our ability to selectively focus on one thing, idea, or task while filtering out other distractions. Another way to describe attention is selective concentration. Attention is the function of our brain that properly allocates our processing resources. There are many ways to describe different types of attention, today we will […]
7. Humans have bigger brains than all other animals: Although we are the smartest mammals, we don’t have the largest brains on this planet. Whales and elephants have bigger brains than humans, but their brains are obvious less developed comparatively. What does make us unique is our ratio of brain weight to body weight, which […]
Stress is the condition or feeling experienced when the demands pressing upon an individual exceed the personal coping skills and social resources he or she can mobilize. As we all know, stress plays a prominent role in our daily lives, generally evoking negative associations. Aside from being associated with headaches and sleepless nights, stress is […]
I’m sure you have heard the old adage television will rot your brain. There might just be some truth to that. First, there is the obvious. Watching television is a sedentary and passive activity. Watching TV is a choice, and like most choices, there is an opportunity cost. When you watch television you forsake other […]
This week we explore eight unusual facts you may or may not know about your brain. Do you know other unusual facts not on the list below? Please let us know by including them in the comment section below. 1. No rest for your brain Believe it or not, although rest is quite important for […]
Most people are intrigued by the thought processes of the opposite sex. Despite rumors to the contrary, men and women are from the same planet. However, there are many differences between the brains of men and women. I have listed nine of them below. There is bound to be some respectful discourse about this topic, […]
Acetyl-L-Carnitine is one of the body’s basic building blocks, an amino acid that is involved in the production of energy, healthy heart and brain function, muscle movement, the metabolism of cells and many other functions. The body is capable of converting Acetyl-L-Carnitine into the closely related L-Carnitine compound, which turns body fat into energy. It’s […]
Feel like your workouts aren’t going so well? Perhaps carnitine supplements may be of use to reach your fitness goals. The compound carnitine is synthesized from amino acids lysine and methionine. Its role is to transport fatty acids from the cytosol to the mitochondria to help break down lipids and fats in order to create […]
Lysine is an amino acid of which vegetarians, and especially vegans, often do not get enough. Lysine is found in abundance within meats and other protein foods, such as beef, turkey, pork, lamb, chicken, as well as fish and eggs. Since vegans and vegetarians do not typically consume animals or their products, how can they […]
Egg protein powder has been on the market for years and although not as popular as whey protein, it should be a consideration for those who wish to get a near perfect protein with all the essential amino acids. Even without the egg yolk to supplement the body with cholesterol and fats, the protein of […]
It is well established that vegetarians and vegans are often deficient in the amino acid lysine, which can lead to diminished health. Lysine typically comes from protein foods like meats (beef, pork, turkey, chicken, etc.), eggs, fish, and even dairy. Making sure you have adequate protein intake is the key to getting enough lysine, but are nuts […]
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. When we eat protein foods our bodies break down the proteins into their respective amino acids, and then builds them back up into new proteins that help build muscle and organs and help run other functions in the body. The amino acids cysteine and methionine are needed […]
1… 2… 3… 4… How many of us have tried counting sheep, or other things that never seem to work, just to get some sleep at night? Sleeplessness can strike a person for a good many reasons, including: worry or fretting, stress or anxiety, racing thoughts, sleep cycles being off kilter, and even due to […]