How Not To Train The Brain

Brain training is all the rage. Commercial and clinical initiatives capitalize on trailblazing interdisciplinary research that spans domains such as education, psychological and brain science, cognitive remediation, and mental health. Promotional materials boast that we can learn to think and respond faster, focus better, and control our emotions; companies and authors market techniques to boost memory, increase confidence, and overcome cognitive impairments. 'How (not) to Train the Brain' examines the field of cognitive fitness and scrutinizes the scientific evidence in support of brain training techniques. With the potential to affect millions this topic is important for scientists, practitioners, educators, and the general public. While many a consumer often marvels at this highly commercialized field, discerning fact from fad becomes a challenge given the abundance of products, publications, and contexts. Moreover, available products prey on the naivety of individuals unfamiliar with the nuanced field of neuroscience, advertising programs that lack scientific validation or presenting unfounded arguments. In this book, the authors review data from hundreds of articles and provide an overarching account of the field, separating scientific evidence from publicity myth and guiding readers through how they should - and should not - train the brain. They describe existing techniques, including those rooted in scientific research, and survey methods that purport to yield measurable improvements. Intended for a wide audience, this book taps a timely topic by highlighting the most salient approaches to boosting brain function while identifying those that don't seem to work.

Right now, be it great or dire, your life is the sum total of your thoughts, choices, actions and habits; everything in your life can be traced to the way you think and how this influences what you do. But all too often our thoughts and feelings seem to have a mind of their own, with negative beliefs and emotions running amok in our nervous system, making it difficult, if not impossible, to make positive changes in our lives. Until now. Un-train Your Brain is an adventurous guide to freedom from the neurons that hold you back. It will enable you to choose how you feel and experience each moment, transforming your daily patterns and habits into actions that lead you to being your very best. READ THIS BOOK, APPLY ITS METHODS AND BEGIN CREATING THE LIFE YOU WANT TO LIVE.

Brain training is all the rage. Commercial and clinical initiatives capitalize on trailblazing interdisciplinary research that spans domains such as education, psychological and brain science, cognitive remediation, and mental health. Promotional materials boast that we can learn to think and respond faster, focus better, and control our emotions; companies and authors market techniques to boost memory, increase confidence, and overcome cognitive impairments. 'How (not) to Train the Brain' examines the field of cognitive fitness and scrutinizes the scientific evidence in support of brain training techniques. With the potential to affect millions this topic is important for scientists, practitioners, educators, and the general public. While many a consumer often marvels at this highly commercialized field, discerning fact from fad becomes a challenge given the abundance of products, publications, and contexts. Moreover, available products prey on the naivety of individuals unfamiliar with the nuanced field of neuroscience, advertising programs that lack scientific validation or presenting unfounded arguments. In this book, the authors review data from hundreds of articles and provide an overarching account of the field, separating scientific evidence from publicity myth and guiding readers through how they should - and should not - train the brain. They describe existing techniques, including those rooted in scientific research, and survey methods that purport to yield measurable improvements. Intended for a wide audience, this book taps a timely topic by highlighting the most salient approaches to boosting brain function while identifying those that don't seem to work.

Cutting-edge science and the ancient wisdom of Buddhism have come together to reveal that, contrary to popular belief, we have the power to literally change our brains by changing our minds. Recent pioneering experiments in neuroplasticity—the ability of the brain to change in response to experience—reveal that the brain is capable of altering its structure and function, and even of generating new neurons, a power we retain well into old age. The brain can adapt, heal, renew itself after trauma, compensate for disabilities, rewire itself to overcome dyslexia, and break cycles of depression and OCD. And as scientists are learning from studies performed on Buddhist monks, it is not only the outside world that can change the brain, so can the mind and, in particular, focused attention through the classic Buddhist practice of mindfulness. With her gift for making science accessible, meaningful, and compelling, science writer Sharon Begley illuminates a profound shift in our understanding of how the brain and the mind interact and takes us to the leading edge of a revolution in what it means to be human. Praise for Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain “There are two great things about this book. One is that it shows us how nothing about our brains is set in stone. The other is that it is written by Sharon Begley, one of the best science writers around. Begley is superb at framing the latest facts within the larger context of the field. This is a terrific book.”—Robert M. Sapolsky, author of Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers “Excellent . . . elegant and lucid prose . . . an open mind here will be rewarded.”—Discover “A strong dose of hope along with a strong does of science and Buddhist thought.”—The San Diego Union-Tribune

Get your brain fit--and your body will follow! Conventional wisdom has always been that in order to lose weight, you need to eat less and move more. But skyrocketing obesity rates tell us that it's not that simple. If you really want to get in shape and stay that way, you need to start at the top--with your brain. The latest research in neuroscience shows that the brains of overweight people are different than the brains of lean people--and not in a good way. Yet, you can train your brain to think like those skinnier counterparts--and leverage that brainpower to drop those extra pounds for good. In Train Your Brain to Get Thin, you'll learn how to: Control hunger levels to reach and maintain optimum weight Defeat emotional eating at its core Feed the brain the nutrients it needs for optimal performance Trick the brain into working for, not against, weight loss Get "addicted" to exercise, not food And much, much more! Train Your Brain to Get Thin combines the latest research in both neuroscience and human behavior to give you the brain-changing program you need to get fit, look good, and feel great--for life!

This rigorous and easy-to-follow program helps keep the brain sharp and stimulated.

Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Table of Contents -- Acknowledgments -- Chapter 1 Introduction: Can Memory Ability be Improved? -- Chapter 2 How Memory Works -- Chapter 3 How the Brain Works -- Chapter 4 Use It or Lose It: The Survival of the Busiest Minds -- Chapter 5 Nutrition -- Chapter 6 Physical Exercise: Improving Memory May Be Just Steps Away -- Chapter 7 Mood and Social Support -- Chapter 8 Stress and Memory -- Chapter 9 Sleep and Memory -- Chapter 10 Practical Tips to Improving the Ability to Make New Memories -- Chapter 11 What is Dementia? -- Chapter 12 Creating Your Own Cognitive Enhancement Classes -- Chapter 13 Starting and Sustaining Your Cognitive Enhancement Program -- Chapter 14 Participant Management: How to Help More People Benefit from Cognitive Stimulation -- Appendices -- References -- Index

Presents a series of activities which can be implemented to increase personal happiness, including such strategies as fostering positive thinking, improving nutrition, getting enough sleep, learning a new skill, and incorporating relaxation exercises.