Increase Your Brain Power Today

Whenever you think you want to increase your brain power, what you really want to do is increase your memory.  I say that because everything that we equate with intelligence really goes back to memory.  So rather than increase power, you really should be saying I want to increase my brain memory.

What is intelligence, after all, but the ability to process, retain and recall information as needed?  No one is born knowing things.  Knowledge is gained through experience and education.  Everything we see, hear, touch, taste or smell adds to the knowledge we possess – if we can remember it.

New information enters your brain though relays along neuron paths from each of our senses.  This means the brain is constantly receiving and processing information as long as we are awake.  The key to imprinting any of that flood of information on our memory is by concentrating.  This is why memory and concentration go hand in hand.

If you concentrate sufficiently, a part of your brain called the hippocampus triggers the storage of the information in our long term memory.  This process is easier when you have an emotional response to the information which is why memories that trigger our emotions tend to be clearer and more detailed.

When you need to remember this information, it will travel along the same neural pathway.  The more often this pathway is used, the easier and faster it becomes.  That is why some information can be recalled without even thinking about it like talking or knowing that your stomach rumbling means you need to eat.  These things have been retrieved from your memory so often that it becomes unconscious.

There are many exercises that you can do to increase your brain power and to keep your memory from getting dull with age.  Unlike many bodily organs, the brain continues to create new cells as long as you are alive and breathing.  If you actively pursue a healthy lifestyle, including proper nutrition and exercise, you are well on your way to keeping your brain functioning well.

You can also do a variety of brain exercises to boost your memory, especially as we get older.  Research has shown that people who exercise mentally every day are less affected by memory loss as they age and also reduce their risks for getting Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.

Some things you can do to exercise your brain include always learning, activities that make you think such as word puzzles and memory games.  Take a class at the local college or adult education center – it doesn't have to be a fundamental subject like math.  There are interesting courses offered to do with a wide variety of hobbies like how to refinish furniture or how to learn to paint. 

So along with a healthy diet and regular physical exercise, don't forget to exercise your brain.  It is easy to fit a little brain exercise into the day – pick up a puzzle book to work on while your sitting in traffic or waiting in line at the grocery store.  Your memory will benefit, your brain will thank you for it and you will increase your brain power.

>>What About Memory Games?