When Giffords was shot in January, the bullet punctured the left hemisphere of her brain. This hemisphere is the control center for language and also controls movement on the right side of the body. As a result of her injuries, Giffords had to learn to walk and talk again. Her recovery, which has astounded doctors and family members, is due in part to music therapy.

Patients who experience aphasia due to stroke or traumatic brain injury can often sing even though they are unable to speak. Because of this, music therapy techniques like melodic intonation therapy (MIT) can often succeed where traditional speech therapy fails. With MIT, therapists have patients sing familiar songs to get the brain working and then substitute regular phrases in place of lyrics.

Music doesn’t just stimulate one area of the brain, it actually activates more areas than any other function. Thanks to neuroplasticity, the amazing ability our brain has to change, adapt and compensate for loss, music can help redirect neuronal pathways to take over for those that are damaged.

If you are feeling anxious or stressed out, try listening to music. Studies have shown that certain kinds of music can affect autonomic response.

Among its many benefits music can actually reduce:

* the stress response
* lower your blood pressure
* boost your immune system
* ease muscle tension.

One of the reasons for the relaxation benefit is that music can increase the production of certain neurotransmitters like serotonin.

Certain kinds of music like classical compositions can have a positive effect on the body’s stress response. When stress levels are lowered we experience mental clarity and a stronger level of concentration. This improves memory and our ability to learn. There was a lot of press surrounding the Mozart Effect some years ago. Although much research has refuted the claim that listening to Mozart improves intelligence, some studies have shown that the 60 beat-per-minute rhythm found in Baroque music and in Mozart can actually enhance mental clarity and learning capacity. If you’d like to try it for yourself, check out our new CDs Mozart on My Mind and Bach on My Brain.

Enjoy some Tunes!

“You are what you eat” is a very well known and slightly overused phrase. The problem with overused phrases is that we say them so much that they tend to lose their meaning. When you really take a look at the information, you start to realize what a huge impact nutrition has on brain function. Our brain needs fuel, but it needs the right kinds of fuel to function well. It is estimated that 20% of our caloric intake is used by our brain.

The brain uses carbohydrates for supplying glucose. Low glucose levels affect the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for our executive control function. When levels fall, our thinking becomes confused and foggy. In other words, you need food for thought. So when you don’t take time to eat breakfast or you skip lunch, you are starving your brain and inhibiting your cognitive performance. Complex carbohydrates are the best because they break down slowly and keep glucose levels steady over a longer period of time. Glucose also influences the release of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine that is necessary for learning and memory.

Neurotransmitters are like chemical messengers in the brain that pass signals between neurons through neural pathways. Most neurotransmitters are made from amino acids that come from the protein we eat. In addition to learning and memory, they also affect focus, sleep and our moods. If production of certain neurotransmitters is reduced, imbalances in the brain can occur. For example, reduced dopamine levels can cause depression and low norepinephrine levels can negatively impact your metabolic rate, as well as the transfer of short term memory to long term memory.

The brain is composed mostly of fat, nearly 60%. For instance, myelin, the insulation surrounding the branches of neurons, is made up of fat. Eating essential fatty acids (EFAs), especially omega-3s, helps the brain maintain a healthy lipid balance and promotes flexibility in brain cells making it easier for information to pass between them. Omega-3s are found in cold water fish like salmon and sardines, as well as walnuts, almonds, avocados, soy beans and flax seeds. It is important to know that the body cannot manufacture EFAs, we can only get them by ingesting them. Our brain and the rest our body must have these fats in order to regenerate and produce new cells.

As the brain ages, neurons (nerve cells in the brain) become susceptible to oxidative stress. Eating foods that are high in anti-oxidants can help protect these cells. Many fruits, vegetables and nuts are high in antioxidants. The USDA created a rating scale of Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity, or ORAC units. Berries, black plums, cooked artichokes, walnuts, black beans, kidney beans, unsweetened cocoa powder and ground cloves are some of the foods with the highest ORAC values.

Neuroscientist Jim Joseph headed a series of studies on antioxidants at the USDA Human Research Center on Aging. He discovered that adult to middle-aged rats that were given food with extracts of strawberry and spinach did not experience age-related cognitive decline like the rats in the study that received standard food. Later studies used mice that carried a genetic mutation leading to increased amounts of the Amyloid plaques in their brain that are linked to Alzheimer’s Disease. Some rodents were fed extracts of blueberries in their food for eight months, while the others were fed regular food. They were all tested after 12 months and the rats that were fed blueberries out-performed their counter parts. The amount of plaques did not differ between the two groups, but the blueberry-fed did not display any plaques-related decline. They also performed at the same level as a control group who did not have the genetic mutation.

This is by no means a comprehensive discussion of nutrition and the brain. Certain vitamins and minerals play an important role in brain health as well. The effectiveness of supplements is a much debated topic and the list of foods that are not beneficial to the brain is significant. Hopefully, though you have gained a better understanding of just how much what we eat impacts our brain, and the next time you hear “you are what you eat” you will have a new appreciation for the phrase.

Written by: BrianCoach Paulette Hicks

You probably know that physical activity is good for your heart, but did you know that it is extremely beneficial to your brain as well? Research has shown that exercise increases the diameter of the blood vessels that supply blood to the brain, allowing greater delivery of oxygen to your neurons. It can also stimulate the growth of connections between those neurons (known as synapses). These connectors can strengthen many areas of our brain. Ultimately, areas of the brain governing reasoning, judgment and memory are actually increased in volume. Recent studies have even shown that physical activity can decrease your risk of dementia, including symptoms from Alzheimer’s Disease.

Here are some of our recommendations to get you and your family outside and moving:

Many of our employees and customers have loved playing with Ogosport. If you need a new challenge, try Djubi. Djubi is a cross between lacrosse and a slingshot. The set comes with two balls with elastic bands that hook on the end of the racquet net. Once it’s launched your opponent has to try to catch it in their net. This activity is great at strengthening focus and hand-eye coordination.

Practice the ancient performance art of Poi with Kiwido. Grasping the string or connected ball, manipulate the ribbons into arcs and patterns by swinging your arms in various motions. This art was developed by the indigenous people of New Zealand to keep the women’s hands flexible for weaving and the men’s hands and arms strong for battle. This easy-to-learn swinging toy enhances coordination, flexibility and concentration and can also help with balance. If you can develop your skill enough to use them with both hands, you can actually work both sides of your brain. The set includes a CD of basic techniques to help you build your skills.

These are all fun outdoor activities, but they also have one other thing in common. At various points they require your arms to be at or above heart level. This raises your heart rate and moves blood from the top of the head all the way to the tip of your toes. This relaxes the lining of the arteries which improves heart and brain health. And learning new strategies and movement patterns can increase your gray matter. So grab a game, go outside and have fun!

So, if negative thought patterns can be detrimental to our physical, emotional and cognitive health, how can we rewire our brains in a positive way? Changing habitual thought patterns can be difficult. Here are some suggestions:

• Psychologists recommend paying attention to your thought patterns. When you recognize a negative pattern, work to gradually change your thoughts. Try to restructure the negative sentences that you repeat in your mind to something more positive. Meditation or prayer can also help counteract negative thoughts. Learned prayers or mantras that are repeated over and over can help calm your mind and focus it in a positive way.

• Exercise can help release endorphins which lift our mood. When you feel yourself overwhelmed by a situation take a walk, ride your bike or do some yoga.

• Build a support network in your life. A strong social structure can keep you active and lend support. Isolation can keep you locked in your negativity.

• Volunteer. Get your focus off of your own life and help others. Seeing the circumstances of people who are less fortunate than you can help you gain a better perspective on your life. Helping others can also give you a sense of purpose.

• If you struggle with issues of anxiety or depression, seek help. Find a therapist or counselor that can work to help you discover the roots of your issues and how to change negative patterns.

• Spend more time doing things that make you happy. Listening to music, reading, spending time in nature, watching a baseball game…fill your life with activities that you enjoy.

No matter what your age is, you can use these tools to make positive changes in your life.

Print out and post on wall. We recommend you go outside before you get to this point.

How can you reduce and retrain the human stress response?
1. Get up and move. Exercise is one of the best ways to relieve stress. It can decrease your level of stress hormones, focus your mind on something other what is causing your stress, and it can be a great outlet for frustration.
2. Take breaks. Get away from your desk for a few minutes. If weather permits, go outside and get some fresh air. Pack your lunch and eat outside. Take a short walk. This can help reduce your stress and increase your concentration and productivity when you return to your work.
3. Find a few moments to be quiet. Whether you meditate, pray or just take a moment to breathe, shutting out the external and internal noise of the day can be extremely calming.
4. Find some stress relief tools. Bucky Balls are a great toy for your desk. They are great for keeping your hands busy and shifting your focus. They can also inspire creative thinking. One of our favorite stress relief products is EmWave Desktop. EmWave software system measures and shows how stress and emotions affect our heart rhythms. The software can assist you in reprogramming your body’s stress response. Traders from a Chicago firm use EmWave Desktop in the background while trading. The program’s positive effects have lowered the employees’ stress response and increased their performance.

In two years we have grown from one location, to seven (with an eighth opening in three weeks)!  Click here to check out all the locations and see if there is one near you.  Don’t fret if you don’t live near a store, you can always shop our brilliant new website.  Thanks to all you brainiacs out there, we keep growing, and hope you’re marbles are growing as well (but try not to get a big head, that’s irritating).

And one more thing.  Have you signed up for our e-newsletter yet?  We will send you brain training tips, product news, special offers, and other useful stuff for your noggin.  Click here to sign up.

The book, The Female Brain, by Dr. Louann Brizendine covers the female brain as it goes through different life points like puberty, motherhood, and menopause, as well as the emotional states like love, feelings, and sex. This may be a good pick for a guy who wants to figure out the ever-elusive female brain, but also extremely interesting and insightful for mothers who may be able to relate to many part of the book.

Little B&W Book of Crosswords

On the Dot

Lastly, I would suggest “The Secret Life of the Grown-Up Brain: The Surprising Talents of the Middle-Aged Mind” for all the mothers out there who feel like their brains just aren’t what they used to be. Did you know that research has shown that brains are at their prime between their early 40s and late 60s? Scientific American gives a great review of the book and explains that brains, “like certain French cheeses, get better with age.” The author, Barbara Strauch, also recently wrote a fascinating piece in The New York Times about training the aging brain.

You can grow more brain cells through stimulation, like playing brain games.

Brain Myth #2: We only use 10% of our brain.
Fact: Nope! We actually use 100% of our brains. Famous author William James said, “The average person rarely achieves but a small portion of his or her potential,” which led to this misconception. His comment incorrectly evolved to the belief that most of us “only use 10 percent of our brain.”

Brain Myth #3: Memory loss or decline is inevitable as we age.
Fact: Many individuals stay sharp into old age. Genetics are part of the equation, but preventative lifestyle measures can also make a big difference. For instance, if you exercise both physically and mentally, eat well, socialize, manage your stress, and have a positive outlook on life, studies have shown that your brain will be better off in the long run. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that memory decline can start as early as age 30, so it is best to enact these lifestyle adjusts sooner rather than later.

For tips on keeping your brain healthy and fit, see our Brain Tips. If you have other questions about the brain, leave a comment and we can address them in later posts.

Blueberries Do the Brain Good!

For information on how these foods affect your brain, visit our Brain Fitness Tips.

When I was younger, my mom made me delicious salmon with whole grains and calcium-rich foods. It sounds crazy, but it is super delicious. Here is the recipe so give it a try!

Ingredients:
Filet of salmon
Plain yogurt
Mayonaise
Whole grain bread crumbs
Oregano
Pepper

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Mix yogurt and mayo so it is 3:1 (mostly yogurt). Place the salmon on a greased baking pan and cover the top with a thin layer of the yogurt mixture. Sprinkle the bread crumbs over the yogurt mixture, covering it. Season with oregano and pepper. Bake for 20 minutes or until fully cooked.

Let me know what you think! You can always do simple things to give your brain a boost by chowing down on blueberries or indulging yourself with some chocolate.