Why is it Important to Exercise Your Brain?

Reading on diverse topics provides a nice exercise to the brain. Such an exercise compels it to adjust to different styles of writing. The brain also learns new words through this process. In short, the exercise draws the brain out of its comfort zone.

The growth of the brain is not wholly controlled by genetic factors. Brain exercises too play an important role in it. Recent research has proved that the growth of the brain takes place continually, even after the formative years of the body's growth have passed. This phenomenon of growth of the brain is referred to as brain plasticity.

Thus, it can be can concluded that brain exercises play a crucial role in keeping the brain functioning in a proper manner during adult and older age as well.

Our brain is a complex organ formed of nerve cells. The nerve cells are known as neurons. These cells are connected to each other by means of synapses. The neurons transfer information between them through synapses. The brain, just like the other organs of our body, undergoes an aging process. Brain exercises prove to be of great help to stem this aging process.

The term neurobic was coined by Lawrence Katz. Neurobic exercises such as brushing the teeth using the non-regular hand, or getting dressed in the dark, can challenge your brain. It happens because your brain is not used to doing these things. By challenging the brain to do something it is not used to, on a regular basis, new associations of neural connections are formed. This helps the brain grow.

A heightened brain activity can help raise the production of 'Nerve Growth Factor'. Such an activity is helpful for maintaining the health of the cells in the brain. A single brain cell is capable of producing 30,000 branches. This makes us aware of the complexity of the brain. It also helps us understand how much growth potential is held by the brain.

Brain shrinkage is one of the signs that is observed in people suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. It is believed (though not proven) that exercising the brain slows down the process of brain shrinkage.

Providing the brain with enough exercise augments the flow of blood towards it. When there is a rise in the flow of blood towards the brain, the process of aging slows down. Therefore, the more you exercise it, the slower is the aging process.

The way in which an active brain is far different from that of a dormant brain - an active brain is characterized by positive plasticity, whereas an inactive or dormant brain is marked by negative plasticity. An inactive brain, owing to the lesser exercise that it is subjected to, kind of becomes 'rusty', and is unable to function smoothly.

Did you know that crawling is one of the important processes in the growth of a baby's brain. A baby crawls by means of using a pair of opposite hands and legs. It means, crawling requires the baby to move its right leg and left hand together, and vice versa. Such kind of movement results in the formation of synapses between the left and right brain. Thus, parents should see to it that their child gets enough crawling exercise.

There are many benefits of performing brain exercises. Lessening the severity of Alzheimer's Disease is one such benefit of performing brain exercises. Doing crossword puzzles, visiting museums, and reading on a regular basis, are some of the important exercises recommended for preventing Alzheimer's Disease. These activities also help lessen the severity of the disease.

► Besides your regular work or studies, join a course for something you always wanted to learn.

► Regularly solve puzzles, crosswords, scrabble, and the likes.

► Keep reading different types of books.

► Try to learn a new word everyday.

► Always have breakfast, because it enhances the functioning of the brain.

► To work, school or college, try different routes, so as to stop the brain from being monotonous in its way of thinking.

► Be as humorous as possible, because humor uses multiple parts of the brain.

► Use your wrong hand too, off and on, so as to exercise the opposite side of your brain.

► Meditation also helps to keep the brain alert and active.

► Play brain games, memory games, draw or paint, to keep the brain fresh and active.

Our brain is a complex organ which directs different organs of the body to perform their respective functions. Thus, it is but natural that the brain, just like other organs of the body, needs exercise, and to be taken care of, to function smoothly.