Neuroscientists Discover How Practice Makes Perfect

Moss on a wall.

Neuroscientists Discover How Practice Makes Perfect

Christopher Bergland

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and Princeton University

have made a breakthrough discovery

that explains how the muscle-controlling neurons of the brain master skills through practice.

The research was conducted by Javier Medina, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology in Penn's School of Arts and Sciences, and Farzaneh Najafi, a graduate student in the Department

of Biology. They collaborated with postdoctoral fellow Andrea Giovannucci

and associate professor Samuel S. H. Wang of Princeton University.

The study titled, “Sensory-Driven Enhancement of Calcium Signals in Individual Purkinje Cell Dendrites of Awake Mice” was published in the February 2014 journal Cell Reports.

Purkinje Cells in the Cerebellum Create Muscle Memory

The cerebellum (Latin for “little brain”) is the brain's primary motor control center.

It contains thousands of Purkinje cells which receive messages from a climbing fiber,

which is a type of neuron that extends from the brainstem and sends feedback from every muscle throughout your body. In order to perfect motor skills, the brain has a feedback system

that monitors when movements go right, and when movements go wrong.

Purkinje cells are the neurons that coordinate all the movements of the body.

Climbing fibers are the neurons that provide feedback when there is an error or unexpected sensation. Together Purkinje cells and climbing fibers work in harmony to fine-tune motor control.

When I published The Athlete’s Way (St. Martin's Press) in 2007 neuroscientists

were still unsure exactly how the brain created muscle memory. Luckily, my father

who was a neuroscientist and neurosurgeon and wrote a book titled The Fabric of Mind (Viking)

had long believed that the Purkinje cells of the cerebellum were the key to mastering a skill

through practice. Because of this, I put Purkinje cells and the cerebellum in the spotlight

as the key to The Athlete’s Way.

When I was growing up, my dad would coach me at tennis saying, "Think about hammering

and forging the muscle memory of your cerebellum with every stroke."

These new discoveries help explain exactly how that process works.

The cerebellum is only 10 percent of brain volume but houses over 50 percent of the brain’s

total neurons. My dad always said, “Whatever the cerebellum is doing, it’s doing a lot of it.”

I trusted what he called "an educated guess" that the cerebellum was just as important as the cerebrum when I created the "up brain-down brain" split-brain model for The Athlete's Way. 

A decade since I originally wrote the manuscript for The Athlete’s Way—after shaping the neuroscience ideas through daily conversations with my father—it’s exciting to see

cutting edge neuroscience confirm my dad's hunches. Although my father passed away in 2007,

I know these new findings about Purkinje cells and climbing fibers would put him over the moon.  

For decades, the enigma of how the feedback system between climbing fibers and Purkinje cells work together has perplexed neuroscientists. In this breakthrough study, the Penn team has shown for the first time that there is a measurable difference between "true" and "false" signals.

This knowledge will greatly advance future studies of fine motor control,

particularly with regard to how movements can be improved with practice.

This discovery gives new and specific evidence to the mechanisms of cerebellar neuroplasticity.

The fact that new neural pathways become hard-wired in response to error signals from the climbing fibers allows the cerebellum to send better instructions to motor neurons the next time

the same action is attempted. This is why you never forget how to ride a bike.

Conclusion: Purkinje Cells, Climbing Fibers, and the Cerebellum Remain Mysterious

The exact mechanism that allows individual Purkinje cells to differentiate between the two kinds

of climbing fiber signals remains an open question and more research is needed.

Knowing that Purkinje cells are able to distinguish when their corresponding muscle neurons encounter an error will probably change future studies of fine motor control. 

Hopefully, this new discovery from Penn scientists will lead to new research into the fundamentals of neuroplasticity and ways to improve the mastery of any skill through practice, practice, practice.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201403/neuroscientists-discover-how-practice-makes-perfect

Turbo Charged Reading:  Read More>>>Read fast>>>Remember more>>>Years later

Contact M’reen at: read@turbochargedreading.com

You can TCR specialist and language dictionaries that are spontaneously accessed.

I can Turbo Charge Read a novel 6-7 times faster and remember what I’ve read.

I can TCR an instructional/academic book around 20 times faster and remember what I’ve read.

Introduction to Turbo Charged Reading YouTube

A practical overview of Turbo Charged Reading YouTube 

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Advanced Reading Skills Perhaps you’d like to join my FaceBook group ?

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Perhaps you’d like to check out my sister blogs:

www.innermindworking.blogspot.com        gives many ways for you to work with the stresses of life

www.ourinnerminds.blogspot.com              which takes advantage of the experience and expertise of others.

www.happyartaccidents.blogspot.com       just for fun.

To quote the Dr Seuss himself, “The more that you read, the more things you will know.

The more that you learn; the more places you'll go.”

Info geek How to Study Effectively with Flash Cards - College Info Geek

Marsh woundwort.

Flash cards can help you learn and memorize information quickly,

and they're one of the most powerful tools you can use when it comes time to study for exams.

Today, we'll look at 8 techniques for both making and studying your flash cards more effectively.

Turbo Charged Reading: Read more>>>Read fast>>>Remember more>>>Years later

Contact M’reen at: read@turbochargedreading.com

You can TCR software and engineering manuals for spontaneously recall – or pass that exam.

I can Turbo Charge Read a novel 6-7 times faster and remember what I’ve read.

I can TCR an instructional/academic book around 20 times faster and remember what I’ve read.

Introduction to Turbo Charged Reading YouTube

A practical overview of Turbo Charged Reading YouTube  

How to choose a book. A Turbo Charged Reading YouTube

Emotions when Turbo Charged Reading YouTube

Advanced Reading Skills Perhaps you’d like to join my FaceBook group ?

www.facebook.com/mreenhunt

www.pinterest.com/mreenhunt

Perhaps you’d like to check out my sister blogs:

www.innermindworking.blogspot.com        gives many ways for you to work with the stresses of life

www.ourinnerminds.blogspot.com              which takes advantage of the experience and expertise of others.

www.happyartaccidents.blogspot.com       just for fun.

To quote the Dr Seuss himself, “The more that you read, the more things you will know.

The more that you learn; the more places you'll go.

10 Things Quick Learners Do Differently To Pick Up Anything

Wet stone flag.

10 Things Quick Learners Do Differently To Pick Up Anything

Jon Brooks

Never before has there been so much information readily available at our fingertips.

Never before has there been so many free resources to learn new skills and expand our minds.

But with this unprecedented access to knowledge,

never before has there been so much confusion about what advice one ought to follow.

More often than not, what separates the people who seem to pick things up fast and excel

at everything they try isn’t that they’ve stumbled on the best insights out there.

Rather, it’s that they’ve learned how to learn well.

Here are 10 things quick learners do differently to pick up anything.

1. Use the 80/20 rule

In 1906 an Italian economist, Vilfredo Pareto, observed that 80% of the land in Italy was owned

by 20% of the population. Taking the observation further he noticed that 80% of the peas

in his garden were produced from 20% of the pods. Y

ears later, economist Joseph M. Juran called this 80/20 rule the Pareto principle.

Productivity experts like NYT bestselling author Tim Ferriss have popularised this approach

as a means to learning quickly. For instance, when it comes to learning a language

a good question to begin with is: what are the 20% of the words that are used 80% of the time?

Find the 80/20 rule in the subject of your studies. What are the main ideas? What are the most important elements that yield the biggest return on investment? Start with these questions.

2. View failure as feedback

We often try to avoid failure at all costs. We typically engage in pastimes we feel competent in

and try not to venture out of our comfort pits for fear of looking like a dork. We play it safe.

This isn’t the way we’ve always been. When learning how to talk, we would mumble and sing

and talk gobbledegook for hours on end to anyone who would listen. When first learning to walk,

we would crawl and stand and fall hundreds of times, sometimes hurting ourselves,

and try again a few minutes later.

Think about all of the hobbies you had growing up–yo-yo, skateboarding, drawing, instruments, sports–every month there was a new fad every kid had to try.

We were excited to learn, to improve, whether that meant failing along the way or not.

The greatest minds in history keep this childlike curiosity their entire lives.

Thomas Edison, arguably the greatest creative scientist of all time,

was racing to invent the light bulb before anyone else. He failed over 10,000 times.

When asked in an interview how he felt about his failures, without a missing a beat he replied:

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

There can be no learning without failure. Embrace it.

3. Simplify

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication” – Leonardo da Vinci

The idea of the superhuman learner who reads 15 books on different subjects at once,

 while learning 10 different languages and writing 3 novels, is a myth.

Multitasking leads to poor performance.

A study conducted by the University of London found that people who had their email on

while doing work that required concentration lost 10 IQ points.

If you haven’t slept for 36 hours, you lose 10 IQ points.

If you smoke marijuana, you lose four IQ points. Too many distractions make us dumb.⁠

Super learners, like Leonardo da Vinci, went through periods of intense immersion.

Although he is famous for being a scientist and an artist, da Vinci didn’t take an interest in maths until he was 40. Then he spent five years learning everything he could about it.

With learning, we must simplify. We must give all of our attention to one topic at a time.

Taking on too many tasks at once weakens our ability to learn.

4. Ask “why” five times to dig deeper

When we see someone perform a magic trick, we’re usually presented with three acts:

the pledge, the turn and the prestige. An ABC if you like.

To the magician, however, there are rarely just three acts, but dozens.

In between A and B there is a further A1, A2 and A3 which the audience never sees.

Good learners look deeper than what is merely presented on the surface.

Quick learners ask why multiple times, even when they think they know the answer.

They probe further. Knowing is not enough, we must understand.

The next time you are presented with a subject you want to learn,

ask “why” five times to dig deeper.

5. Keep a positive attitude

Positive psychologist Martin Seligman has done lots of research on learned optimism.

While everyone has a range, everyone can improve their level of optimism.

If you want to be a quick learner, optimism should be one of the first things you learn.

Optimists don’t feel happy all the time. Optimists feel the same amount of negative emotions

as pessimists. The difference is that optimists bounce back quicker. If you’re faced with a setback,

a rejection, or a failure–all of which are inevitable in the learning process

–the more likely you’ll be to interpret it as helpful feedback.

We can learn to become more optimistic by simply challenging our instinctive thought processes. The next time we get an F on an exam instead of instinctively thinking, “I’m terrible,

and will never improve,” we should challenge this assertion: “Did I study as hard as I could have?

I’ll never ever improve? Not even if I spend 1000 hours more practicing?”

6. Practice what has been learned

Daniel Coyle, in his book The Talent Code, explains the three essential components

of skill acquisition as: passion, deep practice and master coaching.

Theory without application is a huge waste of time. Benny Lewis, author of a popular language learning blog, said that he lived in Spain for six months and attended Spanish courses,

yet still had terrible Spanish. He made the simple decision to start speaking it every day 

even if he looked like an idiot. In less than three months he was fluent.

We are physical beings. In order to internalize lessons we have to physically go through the motions. Imagine trying to learn how to play piano by reading about musical notation,

or entering a boxing match after reading up on how to throw a punch. It will never work.

There’s a reason there’s the saying, “practice makes perfect.”

Nobody ever says, “Reading theory makes perfect.”

7. Ask experts for advice

Most of the greatest learners in their field had mentors. In Robert Greene’s book, Mastery, which is all about quick learners, he dedicates a third of the book to what he calls “The Ideal Apprenticeship.” Greene believes that having experts and mentors is invaluable when it comes to learning:

“In the stories of the greatest Masters, past and present, we can inevitably detect a phase

in their lives in which all of their future powers were in development, like the chrysalis of a butterfly. This part of their lives–a largely self-directed apprenticeship that lasts some five to ten years –receives little attention because it does not contain stories of great achievement or discovery.

Often in their Apprenticeship Phase, these types are not yet much different from anyone else.

Under the surface, however, their minds are transforming in ways we cannot see

but contain all of the seeds of their future success.”

The great thing about living in the information age is that there are plenty of experts to learn from. While having one-to-one tuition from a master is useful, it’s not essential.

We can find mentors on YouTube, or in books that we can learn from by imitation.

As an aspiring artist I often copy the works of Leonardo da Vinci.

Green sums up the apprenticeship phase as follows:

The principle is simple and must be engraved deeply in your mind: the goal of an apprenticeship i

s not money, a good position, a title, or a diploma, but rather the transformation of your mind

and character — the first transformation on the way to mastery.

8. Do not pretend to understand when you don’t

I made this mistake when I went scuba diving in Cyprus. I daydreamed throughout the seminar expecting to learn while I was in the water. That was a big mistake.

When you have heavy equipment on your back, being just a few feet underwater feels like

you’re on the bottom of the ocean. It was terrifying.

On a ship, when an order is given it’s always repeated back to the captain.

The captain needs to know that you understood his instruction.

This rule came about because people were nodding along compliantly without really understanding what the captain wanted them to do. How many accidents happened because of this?

We learn so well as children because we have no self-image. We’re not trying to be seen as clever.

If a young child doesn’t understand something, he will usually ask a million questions until he does. By pretending to understand something, you’re falling prey to an egotistic need to appear smart. Quick learners appreciate how little they know, then go about learning it.

9. Balance scepticism with open mindedness

Leonardo da Vinci said:

“Study the science of art and the art of science.”

Einstein said:

“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious.

It is the source of all true art and science.”

Both of these masters were scientific and creative in equal doses. They knew how to be scientific, but they also knew the limits of logic when compared to imagination.

To be a quick learner you have to treat every past idea, no matter how it first appears,

with a pinch of salt, while at the same time respecting it enough to test it out.

If you dismiss an idea too quickly, you are being too skeptical. If you get sucked into an idea

too quickly and let it start dominating your life, you’re being too suggestible and open-minded.

A quick learner takes what works, discards what doesn’t, and moves on.

10. Small rewards

From the outside video games seem illogical. We choose to spend hundreds of hours carrying out tasks that don’t need to be done, don’t improve our lives outside of the game, and we pay to do it. The secret video games have is the balance between reward and challenge. When you’re playing a video game you don’t need to wait until the end of the month to get your reward.

You get it immediately. There’s an ongoing feedback loop throughout the task,

sort of like having a mentor offering their feedback as you go.

We need to balance our learning with rewards if we’re going to stay motivated long enough

to learn what we need to learn. Everyone’s reward may be slightly different.

For some it will be having a cup of coffee after an hour of practice.

For others it will be showing off what they’ve learnt in a performance of some kind.

Find out what your reward might be and implement it into your learning schedule.

All work and no play…

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/10-things-quick-learners-differently-pick-anything.html

Turbo Charged Reading: Readmore>>>Read fast>>>Remember more>>>Years later

Contact M’reen at: read@turbochargedreading.com

You can TCR music, poetry or self development material for internal knowing.

I can Turbo Charge Read a novel 6-7 times faster and remember what I’ve read.

I can TCR an instructional/academic book around 20 times faster and remember what I’ve read.

Introduction to Turbo Charged Reading YouTube

A practical overview of Turbo Charged Reading YouTube  

How to choose a book. A Turbo Charged Reading YouTube

Emotions when Turbo Charged Reading YouTube

Advanced Reading Skills Perhaps you’d like to join my FaceBook group ?

www.facebook.com/mreenhunt

www.pinterest.com/mreenhunt

Perhaps you’d like to check out my sister blogs:

www.innermindworking.blogspot.com         gives many ways for you to work with the stresses of life

www.ourinnerminds.blogspot.com               which takes advantage of the experience and expertise of others.

www.happyartaccidents.blogspot.com        just for fun.

To quote the Dr Seuss himself, “The more that you read, the more things you will know.

The more that you learn; the more places you'll go.”

If You Do These 20 Things Every Day, You’ll Become Smarter

Collecting lunch.

If You Do These 20 Things Every Day, You’ll Become Smarter

Jayson Demers

Although many people believe intelligence is limited to those with high I.Q.s,

 there are a number of potential methods to boost one’s cognitive abilities

and become more effective at various professional and personal pursuits.

With enough motivation and determination, anyone can expand their mental capabilities

and become smarter. Integrating new habits into your regular routine and providing

proper stimulation can sharpen your intellect quickly and leave you inspired

to take on new challenges each day. Brain health is an important key in complete physical health. The list below includes the best brain-engaging activities in daily life.

Inviting Novelty

To create new neural pathways and strengthen the brain, it’s critical for people to continually incorporate new experiences and information into their lives. At first, these moments

might feel useless, but eventually, you will find yourself looking forward to quiet moments alone

Visit New Places

Whether this means studying in a new coffee shop, taking a different route to work,

or traveling to a different country, displacement is good for the brain. This might be difficult

 to recognize in the moment since it usually feels rather awkward – at least initially.

 At the coffee shop, you can’t order the “usual.”

You have to study a new menu, pick something you have never tried before, and make a decision.

While this seems simple, people enjoy the comfort of habit. We like to know what to expect

at all times. When you travel to a new country, the language is strange, the customs are unfamiliar, and the culture presents a strange new rhythm of life. Adjusting to these new elements

forces the brain to tackle new, unexpected challenges. Learning how to communicate through

 a language barrier forces the brain to develop creative ways to express needs and emotions. Listening to new music, trying new foods, and navigating foreign streets

all work to challenge your brain’s capacity to adapt to new situations.

Continue Your Education

Adult education is one of the best investments of time, money, and energy you can make.

While education is valuable throughout childhood and adolescence, adults often underestimate their ability to learn new concepts and skills. Challenge yourself to take a class, academic or creative. Voluntarily choosing to continue education provides a perfect opportunity for your brain

to create new connections and build higher intelligence.

Read and Watch the News

This is one activity that maintains the appearance of habit while nurturing healthy brain waves. Setting aside half an hour every morning or evening to read a newspaper or watch the news

will help your brain stay active. Digesting new information is a good daily habit. The news introduces interesting topics to consider, and will leave your brain churning with new information.

Read Books

Reading is the most basic way to facilitate brain activity, but it often presents some

of the most diverse opportunities for stretching brain capacity. Reading provides practical assistance by introducing new vocabulary, presenting examples of proper grammar usage, and showing

the elegance of a well-written sentence. However, this is only half of the magic of reading.

Whether you choose fiction, non-fiction, historical literature, or poetry, reading offers

an opportunity for the reader to make big-picture connections between the literature and real life. In this way, reading is an alternative way to make your brain travel to a new place.

As your imagination works to create tangible people, places, and experiences from the words

on the page, your brain is rewiring to understand all the new information.

Approach Work in New Ways

The workplace is a canvas for new experiences. Regardless of what type of job you might hold, everyone is at one time or another presented with opportunities to think outside the box,

problem solve in a creative way, and contribute fresh ideas to the team.

Instead of stressing over each new problem, it’s important to relax

and starting imagining alternatives for reaching an end goal.

Challenging Yourself

Like a weightlifter who develops muscles, one must exercise the brain on a daily basis,

pushing it just beyond its current capabilities. As Albert Einstein once said, “One should not pursue goals that are easily achieved. One must develop an instinct for what one can just barely achieve through one’s greatest efforts.”

This quote encapsulates what I believe about the brain. With enough focus and stretching,

the brain can truly surprise people. Underestimating yourself holds you back from success. When people begin believing in their abilities, they often go beyond what they thought was possible.

Brain Train

Organizations like Lumosity offer fantastic daily brain training. With puzzles and games designed

 to increase neuroplasticity, Lumosity was created to challenge the brain to make new connections. A group of neuroscientists at University of California Berkeley developed this program

to provide stimuli for the brain to push it to adapt and re-train itself in uncharted territory.

Success stories abound concerning the results of this public experiment.

Ask 5 Whys When Encountering Problems

One of the most standard problem solving solutions, the 5 whys still provide a solid start

to uncovering the root of a problem. Asking a question gets the brain working to find an answer. Instead of worrying about the problem, always start by asking why.

Eschew Technology to Keep the Brain in Shape

Technology does wonders for the modern world, but in some ways, technological dependence stunts the brain’s capacity for problem solving, adapting to new environments,

and being a reliable resource for practical things like simple mathematics and navigation.

Try going on a trip without a GPS. Work a few algebra problems without a calculator.

Make your brain work for you; you’ll see the results.

Fostering Creativity

Finger-painting in preschool was not only a fun activity; it helped open up the mind

to new possibilities and ways of solving problems. An artistic mindset creates new opportunities

to find new solutions, fresh inspiration, and peaceful confidence.

The blend of these elements in both personal and professional environments

allows ordinary people to shine by becoming an innovative thinker and inventive leader.

Find ways to incorporate creativity into the dull grind of daily tasks.

Draw

You don’t have to be an artist to appreciate the benefits of drawing, which cultivates brain activity

in a unique way. In addition to nurturing basic hand-eye coordination, it sends synapses

to neurotransmitters to help more permanently and vividly store your memories. From doodles

on a piece of scrap paper to charcoal portraits, drawing is a healthy brain activity for everyone.

Paint

Painting is an extension of drawing. It feeds the same areas of the brain, but unlike drawing, painting often introduces new and unfamiliar textures and colors to stimulate the brain.

Painters often have a keen sense of awareness towards their surroundings.

Engaging in painting encourages people to notice minute details of the world around them.

Focusing the brain in this manner brings a heightened state of alertness.

Play an Instrument

Learning to play an instrument also has outstanding benefits for the brain. Hand-eye coordination, memory, concentration, and mathematic skills all improve through playing an instrument.

While some are more challenging to learn than others, any instrument facilitates increased

and improved cognitive functioning.

From training your fingers to master complex musical passages on the piano to counting the beats in a musical measure, instruments force various regions of the brain to work together to create music.

Write

Like reading, writing encourages vocabulary growth, grammar skills, and use of proper syntax. Writing helps the brain store information more effectively and fosters better memory skills.

Studies show that students who regularly take handwritten notes during college classes consistently score better on tests. Writing forces a person to pay attention to their memories, experiences,

and internal dialogues – a combination that increases brain function altogether.

Role-Play

Put yourself in someone else’s shoes, and your brain starts to rewire to help you think

like a different person. For those struggling to form creative ideas, role-playing can help the wheels start turning in the brain to help develop unique solutions for difficult problems.

Working with Others

Although logical intelligence is important, emotional intelligence plays an equally vital part

in overall success. Interacting with others helps people expand beyond their own limited thinking, gain new ideas, and see things from a different perspective.

People are challenging. Smart people often enjoy isolation because it protects them

from being critical of others. However, this discomfort is necessary for truly smart people

because it pushes them outside their bubble. When you start to believe you have

all the right answers, start collaborating with others to expand perspective.

Teach and Share Information with Others

Whether this is achieved virtually or face-to-face, pursue colleagues and peers

to share experience and wisdom. Fresh faces and new ideas spur inspiration and create

an amplified learning environment for the brain. By creating a network for sharing ideas,

your brain starts developing a new network for formulating and executing innovative concepts.

Talk to Interesting People

No two people share the same life experiences. Everyone interprets information uniquely,

 stores memories differently, and digests daily life with their own intellectual flare.

This makes collaboration a necessity for brain health. Although we are all inclined to think

our method is the best approach, gaining perspective from another person helps our brain

consider new solutions and new techniques for both personal and professional issues.

Whether the conversation is centered on religion, finances, politics, or diet trends,

people should practice being a good listener. Silencing your own thoughts

while the other person speaks is often challenging, but the brain needs discipline to stay sharp.

Work in a Team Environment

Collaborative environments are essential for enhancing brain activity. Some people who enjoy working independently dread the moment when they are forced to participate in a team-focused workplace. However, these independent individuals are highly intelligent

and can benefit the most from a little teamwork.

Author Steve Johnson’s book, Where Good Ideas Come From, focuses on the benefits

of collaborating with peers and coworkers to develop original ideas and effective strategies

for their execution. The modern workplace continues to shift towards this team-oriented approach.

Cultivating Physical Health

The body feeds the brain, and keeping oneself in top physical condition is crucial to adequate fueling and operation of the brain. Lack of motivation, mental fatigue, and absence of inspiration

are typically connected to poor exercise, diet, and focus.

Exercise

Studies constantly show people who exercise regularly have higher I.Q. scores. In addition to maintaining a strong body, people who exercise regularly actually stimulate brain cell growth.

A process called neurogenesis occurs during rigorous exercise, which increases the production

of neurotransmitters. With side effects like increased dopamine, active people enjoy less stress, better concentration, and more energy.

Dr. Michael Nilsson of Sahlgrenska Academy and Sahlgrenska University Hospital

in Sweden conducted extensive research on the topic. “Being fit means that you also have a good heart and lung capacity and that your brain gets plenty of oxygen,” the doctor said.

 His research focused on over a million Swedish military men, and Dr. Nilsson found a direct correlation between physical fitness and high scores on I.Q. tests.

Pursue Athletics

Multiple studies have shown active children typically do better in school and have a better chance

of continuing their education after high school graduation. Although athletic pursuits can feel grueling at the time, the overall benefits of intense physical activity are wise for your future.

Whether it’s finding one thing you are good at, like basketball, running, or lifting weights, or trying something new every day, maintaining an athletic routine is important for optimal brain health.

Meditate

Controlling and calming the brain is as powerful as enhancing activity through instruments

and puzzles. Doctors have been studying the effects of mediation on the brain for several years,

and the results are impressive. In one famous study, Dr. Richard Davidson of the University of Wisconsin collaborated with the Dalai Lama to study what happens to the brain during meditation.

Transcendental Meditation yields impressive results for the brain.

People who struggle with fear, anxiety, depression, and other mental ailments

should experiment with meditation to calm themselves and develop a stronger sense of focus.

Maintain a Nutritious Diet

Children and adults interested in boosting brain activity should begin by transforming their diet. Research from the University of Bristol in England points to a strong connection between unhealthy diet and low I.Q. scores in children. To begin reversing unhealthy tendencies, try cutting out

excess fat, sugar, and fast foods, and start adding more vegetables, fruit, and lean meats.

There are also a number of unusual drinks proven to help brain function. Matcha Green Tea,

Raw Cacao hot chocolate, and Gingko Biloba tea all show benefits for the brain.

Some scientist claim Gingko Biloba helps pump more blood to the brain, improving circulation.

Active Learning

Start children young with interactive video games, jump roping, juggling, and other activities

to feed brain stimulation. Assign a musical instrument, a physical activity,

or a Sudoku puzzle to get their brains moving. Parents, remember to join in the fun!

Creating daily routines to promote healthy brain activity doesn’t require

the advice of a neuroscientist. While plenty of studies provide convincing evidence,

increasing brain activity can be accomplished with a few basic steps. Be intentional about your time and energy to start working towards a smarter and more fulfilling life.

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/work/you-these-20-things-every-day-youll-become-smarter.html

Turbo Charged Reading: Read more>>>Read fast>>>Remember more>>>Years later

Contact M’reen at: read@turbochargedreading.com

You can TCR specialist and language dictionaries that are spontaneously accessed.

I can Turbo Charge Read a novel 6-7 times faster and remember what I’ve read.

I can TCR an instructional/academic book around 20 times faster and remember what I’ve read.

Introduction to Turbo Charged Reading YouTube

A practical overview of Turbo Charged Reading YouTube  

How to choose a book. A Turbo Charged Reading YouTube

Emotions when Turbo Charged Reading YouTube

Advanced Reading Skills Perhaps you’d like to join my FaceBook group ?

www.facebook.com/mreenhunt

www.pinterest.com/mreenhunt

Perhaps you’d like to check out my sister blogs:

www.innermindworking.blogspot.com        gives many ways for you to work with the stresses of life

www.ourinnerminds.blogspot.com              which takes advantage of the experience and expertise of others.

www.happyartaccidents.blogspot.com       just for fun.

To quote the Dr Seuss himself, “The more that you read, the more things you will know.

The more that you learn; the more places you'll go.”   

8 Ways to Train Your Brain to Learn Faster and Remember More

Broom.

8 Ways to Train Your Brain to Learn Faster and Remember More

Maria Brilaki

You go to the gym to train your muscles. You run outside or go for hikes to train your endurance.

Or, maybe you do neither of those, but still wish you exercised more.

Well, here is how to train one of the most important parts of your body: your brain.

When you train your brain, you will:

Avoid embarrassing situations: you remember his face, but what was his name?

Be a faster learner in all sorts of different skills: hello promotion, here I come!

Avoid diseases that hit as you get older: no, thanks Alzheimer’s; you and I are not just a good fit.

So how do you train your brain to learn faster and remember more?

1. Work your memory.

Twyla Tharp, a NYC-based renowned choreographer has come up with the following memory workout: when she watches one of her performances, she tries to remember the first twelve

to fourteen corrections she wants to discuss with her cast without writing them down.

If you think this is anything less than a feat, then think again.

In her book The Creative Habit she says that most people cannot remember more than three.

The practice of both remembering events or things and then discussing them with others has actually been supported by brain fitness studies. Memory activities that engage all levels of brain operation—receiving, remembering and thinking—help to improve the function of the brain.

Now, you may not have dancers to correct, but you may be required to give feedback

on a presentation, or your friends may ask you what interesting things you saw at the museum. These are great opportunities to practically train your brain by flexing your memory muscles.

What is the simplest way to help yourself remember what you see? Repetition.

For example, say you just met someone new.

“Hi, my name is George”

Don’t just respond with, “Nice to meet you”. Instead, say, “Nice to meet you George.” Got it? Good.

2. Do something different repeatedly.

By actually doing something new over and over again,

your brain wires new pathways that help you do this new thing better and faster.

Think back to when you were three years old. You surely were strong enough to hold a knife

and a fork just fine. Yet, when you were eating all by yourself, you were creating a mess.

It was not a matter of strength, you see. It was a matter of cultivating more

and better neural pathways that would help you eat by yourself just like an adult does.

And guess what? With enough repetition you made that happen!

But how does this apply to your life right now?

Say you are a procrastinator.

The more you don’t procrastinate,

the more you teach your brain not to wait for the last minute to make things happen.

Now, you might be thinking “Duh, if only not procrastinating could be that easy!” Well, it can be.

By doing something really small, that you wouldn’t normally do, but is in the direction of

getting that task done, you will start creating those new precious neural pathways.

So if you have been postponing organizing your desk, just take one paper and put in its right place. Or, you can go even smaller. Look at one piece of paper and decide where to put it: Trash?

Right cabinet? Another room? Give it to someone?

You don’t actually need to clean up that paper; you only need to decide what you need to do with it.

That’s how small you can start. And yet, those neural pathways are still being built.

Gradually, you will transform yourself from a procrastinator to an in-the-moment action taker.

3. Learn something new.

It might sound obvious, but the more you use your brain, the better its going to perform for you.

For example, learning a new instrument improves your skill of translating something you see

(sheet music) to something you actually do (playing the instrument).

Learning a new language exposes your brain to a different way of thinking,

a different way of expressing yourself.

You can even literally take it a step further, and learn how to dance.

Studies indicate that learning to dance helps seniors avoid Alzheimer’s. Not bad, huh?

4. Follow a brain training program.

The Internet world can help you improve your brain function while lazily sitting on your couch.

A clinically proven program like BrainHQ can help you improve your memory, or think faster,

by just following their brain training exercises.

5. Work your body.

You knew this one was coming didn’t you?

Yes indeed, exercise does not just work your body; it also improves the fitness of your brain.

Even briefly exercising for 20 minutes facilitates information processing and memory functions.

But it’s not just that–exercise actually helps your brain create those new neural connections faster. You will learn faster, your alertness level will increase, and you get all that by moving your body.

Now, if you are not already a regular exerciser, and already feel guilty that you are not helping

your brain by exercising more, try a brain training exercise program like Exercise Bliss.

 Remember, just like we discussed in #2, by training your brain to do something new repeatedly,

you are actually changing yourself permanently.

6. Spend time with your loved ones.

If you want optimal cognitive abilities, then you’ve got to have meaningful relationships 

in your life.  Talking with others and engaging with your loved ones helps you think more clearly,

and it can also lift your mood.

If you are an extrovert, this holds even more weight for you. At a class at Stanford University,

I learned that extroverts actually use talking to other people as a way to understand

and process their own thoughts.

I remember that the teacher told us that after a personality test said she was an extrovert,

she was surprised. She had always thought of herself as an introvert.

But then, she realized how much talking to others helped her frame her own thoughts,

so she accepted her new-found status as an extrovert.

7. Avoid crossword puzzles.

Many of us, when we think of brain fitness, think of crossword puzzles.

And it’s true–crossword puzzles do improve our fluency, yet studies show

 they are not enough by themselves. Are they fun? Yes. Do they sharpen your brain? Not really.

Of course, if you are doing this for fun, then by all means go ahead.

If you are doing it for brain fitness, then you might want to choose another activity

8. Eat right–and make sure dark chocolate is included.

Foods like fish, fruits, and vegetables help your brain perform optimally.

Yet, you might not know that dark chocolate gives your brain a good boost as well.

When you eat chocolate, your brain produces dopamine. And dopamine helps you learn faster

and remember better. Not to mention, chocolate contains flavonols, antioxidants, 

which also improve your brain functions. So next time you have something difficult to do,

make sure you grab a bite or two of dark chocolate!

Now that you know how to train your brain, it’s actually time to start doing.

Don’t just consume this content and then go on with your life as if nothing has changed.

Put this knowledge into action and become smarter than ever!

So devote 30 seconds and tell me in the comments:

what are you going to do in the next three days to give your brain a boost?

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/8-ways-train-your-brain-learn-faster-and-remember-more.html

Turbo Charged Reading: Read more>>>Read fast>>>Remember more>>>Years later

Contact M’reen at: read@turbochargedreading.com

You can TCR software and engineering manuals for spontaneously recall – or pass that exam.

I can Turbo Charge Read a novel 6-7 times faster and remember what I’ve read.

I can TCR an instructional/academic book around 20 times faster and remember what I’ve read.

Introduction to Turbo Charged Reading YouTube

A practical overview of Turbo Charged Reading YouTube  

How to choose a book. A Turbo Charged Reading YouTube

Emotions when Turbo Charged Reading YouTube

Advanced Reading Skills Perhaps you’d like to join my FaceBook group ?

www.facebook.com/mreenhunt

www.pinterest.com/mreenhunt

Perhaps you’d like to check out my sister blogs:

www.innermindworking.blogspot.com         gives many ways for you to work with the stresses of life

www.ourinnerminds.blogspot.com               which takes advantage of the experience and expertise of others.

www.happyartaccidents.blogspot.com        just for fun.

To quote the Dr Seuss himself, “The more that you read, the more things you will know.

The more that you learn; the more places you'll go.

How to Choose a Good Book

 Forgetmenot.

How to Choose a Good Book

Do you love to read? Do you never know what you want to read?

You have already read your favorite book a thousand times,

and you want to read something new but you don't know what you want to read.

You are going to go to the library but you haven't decided on a good book.

If you have the right information, it is super easy to choose a book!

1 Make a list answering these questions:

What genre of books do you like? Sci-fi, adventure, mystery, non-fiction, fiction, realistic fiction?

What authors do you like? Research books by authors you've enjoyed in the past.

Chances are they'll have another publication that you'll also enjoy, and by searching by authors,

you can get more of the same types of books that the author wrote.

Is there a type of book, or a specific book you would like to try? If there is, search the book up

and read its summary. That will help you decide if the book is right for you.

Are there any books in a certain series you would like to read? If you know the series

then you can search the series online and you can find the books.

You can also go to the library and see if they have the series that you are looking.

What are your interests? Insert your hobbies into your library catalog search and set it to, "Keyword." By doing this, you will find books that you can read that you might like.

2 Search your house.

 Often times good books will be quietly collecting dust in your own house.

Maybe you forgot about one, or someone who is living with you has a couple good books.

Also by search your house, you can find books for yourself, that you can read,

and it won't even cost you any money.

3 Ask someone to recommend a good book. 

You can ask your older sibling, your mom, your dad, your best friend, or even your English teacher. Friends or family with whom you have things in common can often make excellent book recommendations. Local, small bookstores often have wonderful recommendations,

and when they get to know you, it's even better! You should ask people that like the same genre

of books that they have read, so that you can match books that you read.

4 Read book reviews in newspapers and magazines. 

Read the bestseller lists published in most newspapers or weekly magazines.

Find out which new books are making headlines, and why.

5 Join a book club. 

Being a book club member is often a way to experience new books you might never have had

the motivation to read otherwise. Joining a book club or making a book club helps you

know who else likes the same books as you, and you can read books that others have read

and discuss them. Get people that like to read books to join your book club.

6 See if the library or bookstore has computers. 

If it does, then look on the library's search engine. You can use the search engine to find

a certain book, books by a certain author, or anything as broad as just a certain genre.

You can also do this at home.

7 Ask the librarian or book seller

about the location of the books you're looking for. He/she will be happy to help you.

8 Skim through the shelves in the section you're interested in.

If you see anything that looks appealing, pick it up and read the back of the book. 

Skim over the back of the book or the inside flap, wherever the summary is.

If that holds your attention, read the first page or so. If it still holds your attention,

then it's probably a good book for you. The subject might be interesting to you,

but the writing style can be key to enjoying it.

If it looks interesting, put it in your pile. Keep doing this until you have a few books.

9 Find a place to sit, or stand if you must, and read the first chapter of each book.

Of course, if you have many books, this can be time consuming.

Reading the first chapter of a book can help you know what books and genres of books that you like,

and so that you won't have a hard time looking for books again.

10 Narrow down your stack. 

Research reading lists of your favorite writers. Chances are great that you'll like what they recommend. Make this list where you can see it, so that you can keep adding to this list as time goes on. This way you can see what books you have already read, and what books you really want to read.

12 Go to websites such as Gutenburg.org or Gutenburg.ca. 

These two sites have loads of free e-books that you can download, print, or read on your computer. If your school or library has its own e-books then you can go see them too from there.

13 Go Random! 

Grab anything vaguely interesting off the shelves, check it out, and read it!

You'll be surprised at what you like.

14 Gateway books (like Harry Potter or The Unfortunate Events)

re great ways to keep your reading occupied while exploring other options.

http://www.wikihow.com/Choose-a-Good-Book

Turbo Charged Reading: Read more>>>Read fast>>>Remember more>>>Years later

Contact M’reen at: read@turbochargedreading.com

You can TCR music, poetry or self development material for internal knowing.

I can Turbo Charge Read a novel 6-7 times faster and remember what I’ve read.

I can TCR an instructional/academic book around 20 times faster and remember what I’ve read.

Introduction to Turbo Charged Reading YouTube

A practical overview of Turbo Charged Reading YouTube 

How to choose a book. A Turbo Charged Reading YouTube

Emotions when Turbo Charged Reading YouTube

Advanced Reading Skills Perhaps you’d like to join my FaceBook group ?

www.facebook.com/mreenhunt

www.pinterest.com/mreenhunt

Perhaps you’d like to check out my sister blogs:

www.innermindworking.blogspot.com         gives many ways for you to work with the stresses of life

www.ourinnerminds.blogspot.com               which takes advantage of the experience and expertise of others.

www.happyartaccidents.blogspot.com        just for fun.

To quote the Dr Seuss himself, “The more that you read, the more things you will know.

The more that you learn; the more places you'll go.”