How can you exercise while taking a nap? This and more abour our brain.
So how’s your brain been lately? Are you tired, run down, feel depressed, got the doldrums? Time to wake up to some fresh news about the engine that runs your body—your brain.
I have been teaching about the brain for about 25 years so I am always on the look-out for new brain stuff. In one sense I am kind of like a mechanic who always searches for tidbits of information that will make it easier to get that engine (i.e. the brain) running smoother. Here are some brain tidbits for you.
Mozart and Elvis won’t necessarily make you intelligent.
There was a time when mothers-to-be were told that by playing classical music to their child still in the womb, the child actually might turn out to be another Mozart or Elvis. Some mothers even played Russian language tapes to their child or read stories. Sorry, there was only one Mozart and we will never have another. Unfortunately the same is true for Elvis in spite of some rumors that he has been seen in Brainerd. There is no strong evidence that a baby can learn in the womb. The brain is too busy getting ready to enter our crazy mixed up world. There is no need to confuse him or her with Mozart and lessons in Russian.
On the other hand, while Mom is playing Mozart to relax, this is exactly what Mom needs to do. The womb is a super environment—dark, warm, comforting, quiet, just the right place for brain cells to grow. If playing Mozart is relaxing for Mom and causes her to take care of herself, it is also good for her child.
Get stronger while sleeping.
You can have some fun with this brain tidbit. Studies have shown that when someone can visualize themselves getting stronger, they will have greater growth in strength than those individuals who do nothing. Mental rehearsal can affect muscle strength, speed, physical movement, and timing. Going to a gym is great. Walking is fun. Visualizing yourself working out also has its rewards. Try it the next time you take a nap. So, from now on, you absolutely have no excuse for not exercising.
First five, come alive.
The first five years experience in the life of a child can influence how it does forever. Even though we know this to be true, we still mess up the brains of our young children.
At six months, our brains begin to develop the phonemes to speak any language. This is the critical time to learn languages. So what do we do? If we are lucky, we have some modern language instruction in sixth grade. Some don’t get it until ninth grade and some don’t get it at all. If we don’t begin to learn a language by at least the age of seven, we will never be able to speak it like a native.
Because word recognition begins at 8 months, moms and dads need to talk to their children. They need to read them stories. The worst thing a parent can say to their young child is to tell them to “shut-up, be quiet.” Parents should encourage their children to talk. Children who have good vocabularies and conversation skills are more likely to be better readers and learners.
Why do we forget things?
I usually forgot things my teachers thought were important. Did you have that problem too? I had no problem remembering my girlfriend’s phone number or a football or basketball play. How come?
Music instructors and coaches have the answer. They call it “rehearsal.” When I was in the band, we rehearsed and rehearsed and rehearsed. When I had to remember a football play, the coach did what the music instructor did. He had me do it again, again, again and again. In learning my girlfriend's phone number, I said it to myself three or four times and then wrote it in the palm of my hand.
We have about 15 seconds before our brain decides to use any new information or lose it. About 98% of new information it decides to lose. With the two percent it decides to use, in order to put that into long term memory, we have to rehearse it in our minds a few times. It’s even better if the rehearsal involves actually doing what we want to remember.
Of all of the things I have learned about the brain the most interesting tidbit is that at birth we have about 200,000 billion neurons. We proceed to lose half of them immediately. (By the way, that is true for everyone.) With the 100,000 billion remaining neurons a person can learn and do pretty much, to use the old expression, whatever they set their mind to. That includes getting stronger while taking a nap.
Who Is John?