Seven Myths About Your Brain

Here are some common misconceptions about that 3-pound organ in your head.

1. Your brain is gray.

Many people believe that brains are gray. Maybe it’s because of the gray x-ray pictures or the gray brains that are kept in jars. To be fair, when a brain is preserved with fixatives like formaldehyde, they do turn a chalky, dull color. But a living brain is actually red (with areas of white and black).

2. You only use 10 percent of your brain.

This is probably the most common myth about the brain. But if you look at scientific studies of brain activity, you can see very clearly (in lots of lovely colors) that we use a whole lot more than 10 percent of our brain (even when we’re sleeping).

3. Listening to Mozart can make you smarter.

This is known as the “Mozart effect.” In the 1990s, a study was done using 36 students at the University of California at Irvine. They listened to 10 minutes of Mozart before taking an IQ test and their scores went up by about 8 points. However, the study never claimed to make anyone smarter – it just increased performance on certain spatial-temporal tasks. There is some evidence, however, that shows learning an instrument can improve concentration, self-confidence, and coordination.

4. Brain damage is permanent.

If the brain damage is severe, then it’s most likely permanent. But the brain actually has the ability to recover and rebuild itself after being damaged. If neurons are lost or damaged, they can’t grow back. But the synapses (connections between neurons) can. This means that the brain can create new pathways in order to function.

5. You can learn through subliminal messages.

To be plain and simple: there has never been any evidence that subliminal messages have a positive effect.

6. Drugs can put holes in your brain.

Drugs can definitely alter the state of your brain. Using drugs can lower the impact of neurotransmitters (chemicals that the brain uses to communicate signals) or change the levels of them, which can result in problems with neuron function. But there’s no drug that actually puts holesin it.

7. Your brain can stay active after decapitation.

There have been unusual instances where a chicken has lived without its head, but a human simply can’t. If you’re decapitated, you’ll lose consciousness in 2-3 seconds because of your brain’s severe loss of blood flow. When your brain is cut off from oxygen, it immediately goes into a coma and begins to die.

 

Source: www.health.howstuffworks.com

Now this is an amazing story!

Although “My Stroke of Insight”  was published in 2008, it remains one of the most,  well, insightful books  ever written about the brain.

 

Jill Bolte Taylor is a neuroanatomist, which, in everyday language, means she studies the human brain.  Fifteen years ago, while doing research at Harvard, at the shockingly young age of 37, she had a massive stroke.  Terrifying as that might seem to the average person, the experience is entirely different for a neuroanatomist.  In Dr. Taylor’s own words:  “When I realized I was having a stroke, my first reaction was, Wow, this is so cool! How many brain scientists get the opportunity to study their own brains from the inside out?”

In this riveting 9-minute video, Taylor recounts the incredible story of what happened to her on the morning of her stroke, when she lost her ability to communicate, to move and to process the world around her.  It’s an inspiring story of losing all of her cherished cerebral function and then diligently working to get it back, one piece at a time, told with the unique perspective of someone with a thorough understanding of every moment in the process.

If  you enjoy this video, you’ll love her book, also titled My Stroke of Insight.   To quote Dr. Taylor, it is just,  so cool.

Back to school … it’s not just for kids !

It’s that time again. Kids, teenagers and university students are all heading back to school during the next few weeks, but what about the rest of us? Just because we’ve graduated (some many years ago), it doesn’t mean that we should stop learning, no matter how old we are. Why not take your brain back to school? It will be much more fun this time because you only have to take classes that you like. The added bonus is that you can strengthen your brain while doing things you enjoy.

 
Every time we learn a new skill, our brain creates more neuronal pathways. As we practice the new skill those pathways get stronger enabling us to improve. Stimulating your brain with new, challenging activities helps strengthen your cognitive reserve. Cognitive reserve can shield you from the effects of cognitive disease and decline.
Is there a skill that you would like to learn or improve? Anything you’ve always wanted to try? Take a risk and be willing to be a beginner again. Here are some suggestions and the brain benefits they offer:

1. Take music lessons

Learning a musical instrument is one of the top two best activities for your brain because it stimulates so many different areas. Learning an instrument requires coordination and fine motor skills, memory and logic. It also strengthens the auditory cortex. Studies have shown that the benefits of playing music also spill over into language and communication skills.

2. Learn a language

Learning a new language is the other of the top-two best activities for your brain. It works the left hemisphere of the brain, however, speaking and communicating in that language works both hemispheres. Bilingualism also strengthens the executive control function of the prefrontal cortex.

3. Take a cooking class

Learning to cook new recipes incorporates the three-pronged effect of novelty, complexity and variety that are paramount to cognitive reserve. Executing a recipe also incorporates planning, as well as fine motor skills and dexterity for chopping and measuring.

4. Take dance lessons

Dancing engages both hemispheres of the brain. Hearing music and feeling rhythm while incorporating a sequence of learned moves is a super brain workout. With dance you are engaging the auditory cortex, the temporal lobe and the cerebellum. Very emotional dance forms like the tango also stimulate the amygdala.

5. Take an art class

Work on your fine motor skills with a painting, drawing or sculpting class. You can also strengthen your visual perception, visual-spatial skills and creativity.

6. Take a physical activity class like tennis, swimming or martial arts.

Physical activity is very important to cognitive health. Also, doing any activity that has your arms at or above heart level sends extra blood to the brain. The practice that you need to improve your skills will create and strengthen neuronal pathways.

From:   The Brain Blog, Marbles the Brain Store

Lumosity Cognitive Enhancement Research Published in Mensa

Lumos Labs researchers, in collaboration with researchers at Stanford and San Francisco Universities, have published a groundbreaking study in the Mensa Research Journal. This is the first peer-reviewed, controlled trial to demonstrate that web-based cognitive training can significantly enhance cognitive performance in healthy adults.

Participants in the study were randomly assigned to one of two groups: a training intervention group or a waitlist control group. Intervention group participants did Lumosity training 20 minutes a day for 5 weeks. At the end of the period, they saw significant improvements on tests of visual attention and working memory (20% and 10%, respectively). Control participants, on the other hand, did not undergo Lumosity training and did not improve.

This study goes above and beyond others of its kind in building a persuasive case for cognitive training for the general population. Firstly, the experiment used a control group to demonstrate that these improvements were not based on practice effects. Furthermore, the standard assessments of attention and memory used to test the transfer of training effects were distinct from the tasks used for training–thus indicating that cognitive benefits went beyond game-specific abilities. Cognitive improvements were transferable to core cognitive abilities.

The implications of this study are clear and compelling: Lumosity training can improve core underlying mental abilities, abilities that transfer to myriad aspects of our everyday lives. We engage visual attention to focus on our environment, whether it be the webpage we’re reading or the cars on the road. Lumosity uses working memory for a wide variety of tasks, from remembering the grocery list to solving a complex problem at work. Enhancing these abilities can make you more efficient at the things you do all the time.

You can try Lumosity for FREE.

If you decide to subscribe to Lumosity when your free two week trail is up, Lumosity will donate 30% of the subscription cost to the Firefly Foundation.

“Every Body Has a Brain”… launches !

We’re happy to announce that the latest game from Morphonix, “Every Body Has a Brain” is ready for release and available for download today.  Firefly is working closely with Morphonix to bring these games to kids (and schools) in Canada.  Stay tuned for more news …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Morphonix LLC Taps Kid Brainpower With ‘Every Body Has a Brain,’ a New Product Suite Designed Specifically for Children Ages 4 to 6 

SAUSALITO, Calif., July 26, 2011 – For years, the brain was a slow-to-solve mystery for scientists and the public alike. But today it’s more a “marvel,” thanks to exciting research, technology and educational breakthroughs over the last decade. In fact, even children as young as four are now soaking up the brain’s secrets, thanks to Morphonix™ LLC , a company devoted to using games to teach kids all about the brain. 

Morphonix has been winning awards and national recognition throughout scientific, parenting and educational communities for entertaining media and technologies that teach children about the brain while simultaneously and uniquely tapping the parts being used to learn. Now, thanks to grant funding from The National Institute of Mental Health and impressive networks of support and talent, Morphonix has launched “Every Body Has a Brain,” a new product suite specifically designed for children ages 4 to 6. 

“Morphonix approaches learning about the brain so subtly and invitingly, the players don’t even recognize they’re being taught,” says Dr. Floyd E. Bloom, professor emeritus at The Scripps Research Institute’s Molecular & Integrative Neuroscience Department. “Better yet, they seem to remember the details of what they’ve been through.”

“Every Body Has a Brain” delivers a vitally unique understanding and appreciation for this complex yet wonderful organ, according to Karen Littman, Morphonix’s founder/president. For instance, after playing a video game or singing along with the songs, kids easily spout cool facts about the cerebellum, remember to wear a helmet when biking, and know more about brain-nourishing foods. 

“From the songs and stories to the music videos and games, ‘Every Body Has a Brain’ taps critical brainpower, from thinking simple thoughts to problem-solving and even following a future career in neuroscience,” she says. “Kids just get jazzed about the brain, respecting it more and using it better.”

“Every Body Has a Brain” is by design affordable, accessible and applicable to multiple technologies today. Morphonix offers everything from CDs to downloadable games and apps, not to mention the “Free Game and Song of the Week,” featured on the Morphonix website. The “Every Body Has a Brain” suite includes:

• Every Body Has a Brain: The Game  (CD or download for PC or Mac)

• Every Body Has a Brain: The Songs  (CD or download on iTunes or Amazon)

• Every Body Has a Brain: Brainstem Edition (Downloads for PC and Mac)

• Songs & Stories from Every Body Has a Brain (Download for PC and Mac)

• Braintrain for iPhone and Braintrain for iPad

Morphonix games, music, videos and information are available

at http://www.morphonix.com

About Morphonix™ LLC

Founded in 1990 by Karen Littman, Morphonix™ LLC was created to research the educational value of new media and technology and to apply this knowledge to the development of innovative programs that better educate and support children.

10 foods that promote brain health…

Who doesn’t want to become smarter? Who wants to look better or feel healthier? Many recent studies have shown how certain nutrients can positively affect the brain, specifically in areas of the brain related to cognitive processing or feelings and emotions.

Generally speaking, you want to follow a healthy diet for your brain that will lead to strong blood flow, maintenance of mental sharpness, and reduction of the risk of heart disease and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.

We know that foods play a great role in our brain, as concluded in several studies led by a phenomenal neuroscientist at UCLA, Gomez Pinilla.

According to one study, the super-fats your brain needs most are omega-3 fatty acids. Your brain converts them into DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) which enhances neuronal communication and promotes neuronal growth.

Food and nutrients represent fuel to our bodies the same way that when we use our car we need to fill the gas tank. Unfortunately, we generally take better care of our cars than our bodies. Why is that? We are hearing frequently that consuming the right nutrients can help our health, aging process, and more efficient brain-body functioning.

With that said, I want to share with you 10 foods you must keep in your diet to maintain brain health:

1. Apples: Eating an apple a day protects the brain from oxidative damage that causes neurodegenerative diseases such Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. This magical nutrient that acts as protection is quercetin, which is a phytonutrient.

2. Asparagus: Asparagus is rich in folic acid, which is essential for the metabolism of the long chain fatty acids in your brain.

3. Lean Beef: Lean beef is rich in vitamin B12, iron and zinc. These vitamins and minerals have been shown to maintain a healthy neural tissue.

4. Blueberries and strawberries: Studies show that people who eat berries improve their memory and their motor skills. In addition, their antioxidant properties can protect your brain from the oxidative process.

5. Dark chocolate: Dark chocolate offers incredible concentration powers. It is a very powerful antioxidant containing natural stimulants that increase the production of feel-good endorphins. Trick: You need to find dark chocolate with less than 10 grams of sugar per serving for optimal benefits.

6. Salmon: Salmon contains omega-3 fatty acids, which studies have shown to be essential for brain function.

7. Dried oregano: Certain spices have powerful antioxidant properties. In several studies, oregano was shown to have 40 times more antioxidant properties than apples, 30 times more than potatoes, 12 times more than oranges, and 4 times more than that of blueberries or strawberries.

8. Walnuts: Walnuts are rich in protein and contain omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins E and B6, which all promote healthy neural tissue.

9. Whole grains: Whole grains deliver fiber and vitamin E that help promote cardiovascular health, which helps improve the circulation to the brain.

10. Yogurt: Yogurt and other dairy foods are filled with protein and vitamin B that are essential to improve the communication between nerve cells.

 

Make sure that from now on you select and plan a great menu that include these brain foods. Life is about choices and selecting the right nutrients can play a key role in your health.

 

Written by Michael Gonzalez-Wallace, who is the author of Super Body, Super Brain. You can read more from him at http://www.superbodysuperbrain.com/ or pick up his book Super Body, Super Brain.

Imagine if kids understood more about their brains !

“Every Body Has A Brain”,  is the latest game in development at Morphonix.  It’s an interactive musical brain game that awakens children ages 4 to 6 to the growing power of their brains.  Playing the games helps children gain a new sense of wonder, awareness and appreciation for their brains.

 

Why is that important?

On average we are living approximately 30 years longer than we did 100 years ago.  So we can no longer take our brains for granted, and we have to recognize that they just might not last as long as our bodies will.

Firefly Foundation has recognized that there is a gap in sustaining brain health in both the health care and education model. 

Studies show the earlier and more effectively you take care of your brain, the better off you’ll be later in life.    Benefits include an extended quality of life, a sharper mind or improved memory, and better mental dexterity; now and later. 

Research evidence has demonstrated that maintaining these elements of brain function will prevent, delay onset and slow the progression of neurodegenerative disease.

But nobody’s talking about it.  Especially not young people.  Brain diseases like Alzheimer’s are something that won’t happen to them for a very long time.  On the other hand, if you ask a group of kids if they know anyone who has Alzheimer’s, you’ll be shocked to see how many of them do.

We want to teach kids about the wonders of their brain, so that they’ll care about them and take care of them now. 

In 2010 we formed a relationship with Morphonix and with their permission we will help launch their latest game Every Body Has A Brain in Canada in 2011. 

Stay tuned for more information about “Every Body Has A Brain” …

These Simple Tasks Can Make Your Brain More Complex

 Nothing’s set in stone — and that includes our fluid intelligence.  At the Association for Psychological Science in Washington, D.C. on May 28th, 2011, University of Michigan psychologist Dr. John Jonides presented new findings showing that as few as 20 days of working memory training can improve the reasoning and problem-solving abilities often referred to as fluid intelligence.

Many of you might remember Lumosity’s collaboration with the University of Michigan researchers behind the dual n-back task. Dual n-back is a working memory exercise that presents users with a series of visual and auditory stimuli and then challenges them to identify whether these stimuli match the ones that were presented a certain number (n) of trials previously.

Studies have shown that this task boosts fluid intelligence after about 20 half-hour sessions of training, and our collaboration with the Jonides lab led to the development of an online version playable on Lumosity.com. It also sparked the creation of Memory Lane, a challenging dual n-back game.

Professor Jonides’ latest research, conducted with more than 200 young adults and children, forwards the n-back investigation in several new directions. Perhaps most importantly, the new research shows that a single n-back working memory task, where one stimulus is presented instead of two, has the same positive benefits as the dual n-back task. This news should come as a welcome relief to anyone who finds dual n-back or Memory Lane especially tough.

The Jonides lab also found that the more sessions a user devoted to the n-back task, the more significant the improvement in fluid intelligence — and that these improvements can last for up to three months following the training.

Lumosity has eight n-back exercises available to subscribers. If you’re interesting in exercising working memory with n-back training, why not try Speed Match, Memory Match, or Face Memory Workout now?

You can try Lumosity for FREE.

If you decide to subscribe to Lumosity when your free two week trail is up, Lumosity will donate 30% of the subscription cost to the Firefly Foundation.

Great News from the Canadian Brain Bee

Firefly was proud to be a sponsor at the Toronto Brain Bee.  For the 13^th year competitors came to the Medical Sciences Building at the University of Toronto, on March 25^th,2011.  There were a record 62 students from 16 high schools in the Toronto Area who participated.

Following three rounds of questions the top three winners were:

First place: Soohyun Park from University of Toronto Schools

Second place; Jessica Zung from University of Toronto Schools

Third place: David Kim from Sinclair Secondary School

On May 28^th Soohyun attended the Canadian National Brain Bee competition and again placed first.  Our sincere congratulations go to Soohyun for this great achievement.

Stay tuned for updates on the International Brain Bee.  Soohyun will be travelling to Florence Italy to represent Canada!

Six reasons why travel is good for your brain…

Schools are finishing up for the year, the weather is getting nicer and people across the globe will be packing their bags and hitting the road. The glimmering hope of vacation pulled us through the bad weather, the stress and the doldrums of the previous months. We all need time to relax and decompress from our daily lives. It’s pretty obvious that vacation can be good for your overall health.

However, you may not realize that traveling is very beneficial to your brain.
There are three things that are extremely important for  maintaining your cognitive health:  Novelty, Variety and Complexity.

Travel is a perfect vehicle to incorporate all of these.

6 Reasons Why Travel is Good for Your Brain:

1. Change of routine. When we change our daily routine, we stimulate our brain in new ways. According to neurobiologist Lawrence Katz, when we present the brain with non-routine activities that incorporate our physical senses, we promote the growth of new neural pathways and the creation of neurotrophins. Neurotrophins are brain nutrients that make neural cells stronger and more resistant to the effects of aging.
2. Maps. When we travel to new places, we almost always use maps to find our way around. Maps are a great workout for our visual-spatial skills and our memory.
3. Language. If you travel to a foreign country, you have to be able to
   communicate in another language even if it’s rudimentary. Learning new language and then speaking it works both hemispheres of the brain.
4. Museums and historical attractions. Sightseeing agendas almost always include these, and they are full of fascinating information to see, hear and touch. Learning new information, as well as recalling facts we may already know about a place or historical event, gives our memory a workout.
5. Walking. Exercise is great for the brain and most people are more physically
   active on vacation than they are normally.
6. Less time in front of the television. Down-time and time spent getting to and from your destination is often filled with reading, doing puzzles or playing games with your travel companions. These are all great ways to strengthen your cognitive skills.