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Continuing with the theme of a Week of Science sponsored by Just Science, we will highlight some of the key points in: Appelhans BM, Luecken LJ. Heart Rate Variability as an Index of Regulated Emotional Responding. Review of General Psychology. 2006;10:229–240. Effective emotional regulation depends on being able to flexibly adjust your physiological response to a changing environment moment by moment.Heart rate variability (HRV) is a measure of the continuous interplay between sympathetic and parasympathetic influences on heart rate that yields information about autonomic flexibility and thereby represents the capacity for regulated emotional responding.

"Great fun. Instructor is delightful, informative, enthusiastic. If this is a gym for the brain-who thought it could be so fun?"
- Anonymous evaluation from student

Exercise Your Brain: New Brain Research and Implications DVD: $19.99

All sales final. Approximate running time 80 minutes. Color / Not Rated / NTSC / Zone 0.

This one-hour and 20 minute class [...]

In honor of the Week of Science presented at Just Science we will be writing about “just science”.Today, we will highlight the key points in an excellent review of cognitive reserve: Today, we will highlight the key points in an excellent review of cognitive reserve: Scarmeas, Nikolaos and Stern, Yaakov. Cognitive reserve and lifestyle. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology. 2003;25:625-33.The concept of cognitive reserve has been defined as the ability of an individual to tolerate progressive brain pathology without demonstrating clinical cognitive symptoms. Epidemiological evidence suggests that individuals with higher IQ, education, occupational achievement, or participation in intellectually and socially active lifestyles may result in both quantitatively more cognitive networks and qualitatively more functionally efficient networks resulting in more reserve.

from Brain Fitness 101: Answers to Your Top 25 Questions. Does a brain fitness program prevent Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia? Studies have shown mentally active people have lower rates and later onset of symptoms for Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. These diseases involve a number of variables like family history, physical fitness, nutrition, and brain fitness. People who remain intellectually active and engage in hobbies reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by one third.

No matter what we are reading or doing, there is always the need to take a little break and challenge our minds (and to learn a bit about how our brains work)…. If you care for Brain Fitness Programs, check out MindFit for an overall mental workout, IntelliGym for basketball game-intelligence, RoboMemo for working memory training, Freeze-Framer for stress management and peak performance.

We want to congratulate Dr. Torkel Klingberg on receiving the Philip’s Nordic Prize for his research on working memory training for children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).The prize recognizes outstanding research in the field of neuropsychiatry and was presented by the Norwegian royal princess Märtha Louise at the Rikshospital in Oslo, Norway…. More than 80 percent of children who have completed Cogmed’s intensive five-week program have demonstrated dramatic and lasting improvements to their attention, impulse control and problem solving skills.

Question:Is it necessary to train under the supervision of a doctor or other specialist?Key Points: Recreational activities have always been done for fun either socially or independently.Most computer-based software programs are intended for you to use on your own computer when it suits you…. But most of the software programs today are designed to be user-friendly and used in the comfort and privacy of your own home without any outside supervision.Many programs have a built in coach or teacher to help explain what you are doing in each exercise, why you are doing it, and how you are doing.

To download the complete complimentary version, please click here.Question:How do I know if computer-based brain fitness programs work?Key Points: Research the product and the names involved with the product to see what has been published.Look for articles in high caliber, peer-reviewed journals.Ask for referrals.Assessments done before you begin and then after your training allow you to track your performance.Observe yourself…. Given that we are talking about fitness programs, not medical interventions, the programs must place reasonable demands for you to complete, otherwise you simply may not finish it and not reap the benefits.Do you notice an improvement in yourself after using it?

CBS News and TIME magazine are teaming up for a five-part series on the “The Complicated, Mesmerizing World of the Brain”.http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/17/eveningnews/main2368898.shtml title: (or similar, but those are keywords people may use after watching the show)…. 2) and would include the word neuroplasticity in the title 3) and link to glossary 4) in the comments for the articles, mention the great brain fitness blog at www.sharpbrains.com/blog If you want to catch it:The CBS News reports began Wednesday, Jan. 17, with three parts to air on the CBS Evening News (6:30-7 p.m. ET) and two parts on The Early Show (7-9 a.m. ET/PT), as well as extended, Web-exclusive reports on CBSNews.com and companion programming on CBS Radio News.

Concealed emotions, micro expressions, are the fleeting expressions that people make when they are consciously or unconsciously trying to hide their true emotional response. But Paul Ekman has made a Paul Ekman, Ph.D. was a Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California at San Francisco for 32 years.

How do I know if computer-based brain fitness programs work? Research the product and the names involved with the product to see what has been published.Look for articles in high caliber, peer-reviewed journals.Ask for referrals.Assessments done before you begin and then after your training allow you to track your performance.Observe yourself…. Just as you cross-train in your physical fitness routine (mixing cardio with strength training and flexibility) to get a balanced workout, you need to cross-train your mental fitness to exercise your brain through motor coordination, emotional understanding, memory, focus and attention, sensory processes, communication, language skills, and mental visualization.Furthermore, how can you gauge your improvement if you don’t have a way to measure it?

Don’t worry, even if you’re a guy, there’s plenty there to get you started and keep you motivated on a fitness plan – for your body and your mind…. Kevin’s suggestions also make for good brain fitness – most of his suggestions include novelty and challenge, both of which are good for motivation and brain fitness.

To download the complete complimentary version, please click here.Question:Why are computer programs better than paper-based ones or simply attending a class in person?Key Points: Any activity that requires you to use your brain in new, challenging ways helps your brain.Recreational activities like bridge, chess, puzzles, sudoku, various classes, reading, and sports are all better than passively watching television.Add a computerized brain fitness program to get a complete mental workout on a regular basis.Answer:Do something…. Therefore, just a few minutes of relaxation on a regular basis will go a long way to improving both your brain and overall fitness.Conclusion:You must use your brain in order to improve it.

Newswise released an interesting article on Monday called Want to Improve Memory? Strengthen Your Synapses.

Your frontal lobes are home to your executive functions, including pattern recognition. Here’s a puzzle to challenge your ability to uncover a pattern.
In this puzzle, three numbers: 16, 14, and 38, need to be assigned to one of the rows of numbers below. To which row should each number be assigned – A, B, [...]

Do I need anything else?Key Points: Recreational activities like crossword puzzles, sudoku, bridge, chess, poker, etc. are all good for you and better than doing nothing.BUT, recreational activities are limited in their range of mental cross-training as well as difficult to control for both challenge and novelty.Answer:Do something…. The programs also adapt to your performance to keep on challenging you over time.Physical exercise and good nutrition will support your commitment to brain health.

Joanna Poncavage of The Morning Call wrote “Get Some Brain Training”.”Learning and targeted mental exercise promotes neurogenesis — the creation of new neurons — just as muscle growth is promoted through physical exercise,” says Elkhonon Goldberg, clinical professor of neurology at New York University School of Medicine, and chief scientific adviser.She goes on to say:The concept of the brain as an organ that can be strengthened like a muscle is due, in part, to new technologies like the functional MRI, which takes pictures of the brain in action…. ”This is literally a new field,” says Alvaro Fernandez, SharpBrains CEO.As more research leads to better understanding, we look forward to offering more and more brain fitness solutions for people to help them meet their goals – from specific to general.

Here is the sixth question of 25 from Brain Fitness for Sharp Brains: Your New New Year Resolution. To download the complete complimentary version, please click here.Question:textKey Points: pointpointpointAnswer:Conclusion: textFurther Reading .

I love this story of a boy’s dream bike, and how the memory of it lasted until it could be returned to the next generation.Take pleasure in simple things. Stop to appreciate what is around you and take it in. Use a beautiful landscape or building as an object to help you meditate and de-stress.

You need a brain fitness program if you want to keep your mind in top shape and dramatically slow the effects of age-related cognitive decline. If you don’t do anything to protect your existing neurons and add new ones, you will lose them. If neurons are used, they remain active and healthy and create functional connections with other neurons, increasing their activity and health. Exerting your brain may even lead to the birth of new neurons, and it rescues the neurons you already have from decay, the “use it or lose it” phenomenon.