BRAIN DEFOGGER - ~AARP Magazine~ June 2009

BRAIN DEFOGGER
AARP Magazine~ June 2009

What strategies can you do to boost your memory? They are many actually, one is called; “locomote” Boosting your activity level can increase brain volume and enhance cognitive function.
Australia did a study on people with mild memory impairments performed better on cognitive tests after walking 150 minutes a week for six months. Exercise increases the flow of the brain. It also controls insulin and other chemicals linked to cognitive problems. Even if you exercise a little, it is better than nothing. As long as you are doing more than you are doing now.

Vitamin B-Complex also helps with memory. Low-quality and quality sleep can seriously clear up mental clarity. The brain moves memories into long-term storage during deep sleep. If its interrupted it can interfere with the ability to retain information. We should stick to one bedtime and keep your bedroom quiet, dark and cool. Stay away from caffeine, night-lights, naps, and nightcaps, all of which can give you trouble sleeping.

Connection to Psychology

Slow-wave sleep – Sleep stages 3 and 4: which are accompanied by slow, deep breathing; a calm, regular heartbeat; and reduced blood pressure.

Neuromodulators: These compounds fluctuate throughout the night, fine-tuning the impact of the neurotransmitters glutamate.

Eurotransmitter Glutamate: gives a boost to the brain, causing neural transmission.

Acetylcholine: drops to its lowest levels during dreamless sleep.

During the transition to dreaming sleep, noradrenaline and serotonin levels remain low, but the acetylcholine level begins to rise, reaching twice the waking level in some parts of the brain. The body cycles several times between dreaming and non-dreaming sleep throughout the night.

The three neuromodulators are probably intricately involved in the impact of sleep on memory,--- sleep seems to offer these benefits to memory.

Note:Jean Piaget, a Swiss developmental biologist and psychologist. She is the first expert to suggest that until a child is at least 11, she is not capable of thinking and like an adult.

Cognitive Thinking

Piaget's revolutionary research began early in the last century. She introduced four stages of development:

Sensorimotor Period, from birth to 2 years
Preoperational Period, from 2 to 6 or 7 years
Concrete Operational Period, from 7 to 11 years
Formal Operational Period, from 11 on...