Memory & iq

Studies have shown that 50% of brain power is genetic while 50% is environment derived, thus, while there are some that are born better off there’s still a chance to even off with the inherent genius. The 50% of brain power that is a direct result of its environment is what happens after exposed to the activity it receives. Since the brain is very similar to a muscle, such that the number one thing to increase your brain's thinking power is through activity just like muscles need to be exercised. Doctors would advise that the way to avoid mental decline is to constantly keep the brain active. Studies show that those who work their minds the hardest have actually shown definite and marked improvement in scores on intelligence tests. It has also been proven that stagnation can cause a decline on those same tests. In fact, the very same activity has even been proved to help those whose minds have already started to decline, even the alzheimers patients.

In Tony Buzan's book Use Your Memory, he said that there were two underlying principles for perfect memory which is associate (link) and using your imagination throughout. The upper part of the brain is divided in half and each half specializes in a different mental trait. In order to enhance your ability to remember and bring both features from both sides of the brain, you can associate by the use of your sensuality or a blend of your senses of: 1. Vision, 2. Hearing, 3. Sense of smell, 4. Taste, 5.Touch, and 6. Kinesthesia or awareness of bodily position. Association is one of the keys to a good memory because when you associate something with what you want to remember you can then recall easily. It might also help to have fun with your memory and make all of your images funny and ridiculous. Use your imagination in this for as Einstein said "Imagination is more important than knowledge". By this yuou can have a rich symbolism of a thousand words and add more color to it. By the way, the more colorful the image, the easier it is to remember.

To keep that memory in check, it is also important to keep you images in check. The more positive and pleasant your mnemonic images are then the more likely your brain will remmebr them.

However, beyond mnemonic imagery, in developing a good memory you also have to take heed to your dietary requirements. Your brain is probably the greediest organ in your body and what you eat can affect how you think. Try brain-boosting diets with a pinch of low-sodium salt. But if it is possible to eat your way to genius then speed it up by eating breakfast. The brain is best fuelled with the meal and many studies have shown that skipping breakfast reduces people's performance at school and even at work. However, according to research published in 2003, kids having fizzy drinks and sugary snacks for breakfast performed at the level of an average 70-year-old in tests of memory and attention. So choose a far better combination like a breakfast with high-protein beans work best since beans are a good source of fiber and a high-fiber diet and improved cognition are linked.

Beyond breakfast, other factors for a good brain boost are a right amount of vitamin folate and verbal ability early in life along with positive emotions. Activities like crosswords, knitting, exercising and also such will help you especially in preventing senility at the onset of old age. But more importantly, spirituality, or at least the positive attitude that comes from it as well as individual differences are necessary in maintaining brain health and preventing dementia. Your general health is also vital with your metabolic problems, small strokes and head injuries which are common triggers of Alzheimer's dementia.

There’s also one thing that’s good for your mind. A decade ago Frances Rauscher, a psychologist at the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh, made the discovery that listening to Mozart improved people's mathematical as well as spatial reasoning. In fact, even rats ran mazes faster after hearing Mozart since it was reported that for rats a Mozart piano sonata stimulate activity in three genes involved in nerve-cell signalling in the brain. Apart from this, it was also found out that music lessons given to six-year-old children, as opposed to drama lessons, got a 2 to 3-point boost in IQ scores compared with the others. Rauscher also found out that after two years of music lessons children are able to score better on spatial reasoning tests than those who took computer lessons. It must be because music lessons exercise a range of mental skills with the requirement for delicate and precise finger movements as well as listening for pitch and rhythm, all and all combined with an emotional dimension. Also, music can help much in concentrating as long as you listen to something familiar and soothing that will drown out background noise. Psychologists also recommend that in order to work the brain well there must be avoiding of potential diversions, such as noise and the fridge. Cut down on distractions as much as possible. Workplace studies have found that it takes at least 15 minutes to regain a deep state of concentration after a distraction. Thus, just a few of such interruptions would end up with half of your day wasted. However, there are mental drills to deal with distractions and that is to routinely recognise when your thoughts are wandering, and catch it immediately. As a Zen meditator believes, concentration is a skill to be lovingly cultivated.

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Memory & iq