Today we share with you an episode from one of our favorite radioshows: Radiolab. Memory and Forgetting first aired in June 2007, nearly 5 years ago. This podcast might be half a decade old, but the concepts and stories they discuss are just as relevant and interesting today as they were then, and, as always, Jad and Robert presents memory and forgetting in a delightful mosaic in 3 parts. (more…)
Over the years much research has been conducted on brain activity in the hopes of finding answers to or treatments for psychological disorders like ADHD. One area of focus has been on the brain’s activity during times of rest. Even if we are not currently focused on a specific task, our mind is still active and starts to wander. For the Brain Awareness Video Contest, Cristina Tortarolo created a great introduction to the brain’s Default Mode Network. You can watch and comment on the video below. (more…)
It’s an ability we have probably all wished for at one point: to recall, with perfect accuracy, everything we ever did, saw, read or learned. A perfect memory may not be the first superpower that comes to mind for some. Wouldn’t it be so much cooler to be invisible? Or be able to fly? Consider this though: How often do you really need to be able to soar through the skies or hide from the world? Now think about how often you wish for a better memory. Even if you may not think you do, I bet it happens to almost everyone at least once a day. (more…)
Walnuts are rich in omega-3s and even look like a brain!
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for our brain to work. These fatty acids build our neurons, and they make up the fat-rich cells that surround our neurons that help transmit signals–I’m talking glia, here, people. Omega-3s are concentrated in our brains’ gray matter, and gray matter can be thought of as “where learning happens” in our brains. Omega-3s have been linked to improved heart function, which leads to better circulation, which leads to more blood to the brain. Getting enough blood to your brain is necessary for thinking, concentrating, learning, and many more important brain functions. Additionally, These very good fats are also found in breast milk, so make sure you eat enough omega-3s when breast-feeding so your young one’s brain can develop fully!
Clearly, getting enough omega-3s in your system is very important. It turns out that our bodies cannot make omega-3s on their own, so the only way we can get them is by consuming foods containing them. So what foods should you eat? If you want to be more alert, reduce your risk for dementia, improve your memory, and increase your overall well-being, try these foods: (more…)
It’s no secret that our brains are some of the most complex and fascinating organs on the planet. Online Universities compiled 25 surprising facts about your brain. Read on to learn why you feel so hungry after an intense study session and why you need fat in order for your brain to function!
Your brain plays a role in everything you do, from writing a sonnet to scratching your ear, but you likely don’t spend much time on a daily basis thinking about what’s really going on up there. While you might not always be conscious of it, your brain is a busy organ, storing memories, letting you feel pain and pleasure, and reacting with lightning speed to eternal stimuli, all while keeping the basic bodily systems running smoothly. Even if you’re not majoring in the biological sciences, learning more about the brain can just be incredibly interesting and perhaps even entertaining. Read on to learn some fascinating facts about your brain that might just motivate you to give it the respect and TLC it deserves. (more…)
It seems like every day, scientists or researchers make revolutionary new discoveries. Some of these are accepted in the scientific community and proceed to take root in people’s minds as common fact. However, from time to time it happens that one of these ‘facts’ is in fact nothing but a misconception. There are different scenarios how this can happen: Even in science, some results are published that lack any firm basis; if these ‘discoveries’ are then picked up by news outlets or other scientiests witout any further research, the false information reaches the general public as fact. In another and more common scenario, there is a margin for error in every study that is conducted. Some results that were once deemed accurate can with further research turn out to be major misconceptions. Eradicating all previously known ‘facts’ on this subject that have already taken root in the general public’s thoughts can prove to be difficult. (more…)
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Ever since a study from Harvard and Columbia was released last summer “proving” that Google is eroding our memories, educators and technophobes alike have been pontificating on what this means for the future of education and the brain. The Twitter-sphere abounds with doomsday tweets about the “googlification” of our brains. Even Mashable recently weighed in on the subject, lamenting that we may “go into withdrawal when we can’t find something online.” With so much at stake, it’s probably worth understanding the actual context of the Harvard study a bit better. (more…)
This week’s video of the week was chosen by Isabell, who shared the food post on Monday about your diet and your brain. If you haven’t read Monday’s post, I highly recommend it.
Food plays an important role in our lives. Yes, we need it to survive, but on top of satisfying our most basic needs it is also important that we supply our bodies and brains with essential nutrients that will keep us healthy and on the ball. And beyond that it is also within our power to achieve more than basic functionality! Some foods are known to be beneficial for your brain, so add fish, berries, leafy greens, and (SURPRISE!) caffeine to your diet.
Watch below for some great tips and information on what foods are good for your memory:
Over the past few decades, much has been written about the proliferation of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) symptoms among American children and adults. Researchers have postulated dozens of causes and potential remedies for the affliction. Some studies show that the cause is mainly genetic and that the only way to truly treat it is therefore through the use of drugs. Other studies show that the cause is mainly environmental and that the elimination of artificial sugar or TV can slowly restore normality to an ADD-affected brain. And other studies even explore whether the cause of today’s ADD epidemic may actually be rooted in the proliferation of food dyes.
Whatever the causes and potential physiological-based remedies for attention deficit, it’s worth stepping back and considering whether our attention spans could actually be improved by some structural changes in our education & work systems, and in our lifestyles. (more…)
In our blog we keep stressing the importance and benefits of a healthy diet to improve studying and learning and keep our minds sharp. If you’re tired of hearing or skeptical about brain foods, this article might help you reconsider your stance on the subject. Boosting your test performance with healthy and nutritious food is one thing. Actually losing memory and critical thinking abilities due to an unhealthy diet is quite another. But this is exactly what a new study conducted in Oregon seems to prove.
Researchers took blood samples and scanned the brains of test participants whose mental abilities had been previously tested. The test results show that there is in fact a link between an unhealthy diet and lessening cognitive abilities as well as brain volume. While other factors may have a greater effect than food, if you want to stay sharp throughout life you may want to consider laying off the fast food and eating more fruits and vegetables, fish, nuts and seeds. Below we’ve posted the Huffington Post article which discusses the study in detail, so read on to learn more about the findings. (more…)
