6 Surprising Things That Affect Your Brain

By Jon Spayde, Experience Life

Brain scientists in recent years have discovered a number of surprising ways that the brain influences our overall health, as well as how our behavior influences the health of our brain. And unlike in the days of old — when scientists believed the brain was “fixed” after childhood, only to start an inexorable decline in the middle to later years — today, research is showing that the brain is perfectly capable of changing, healing and “rewiring” itself to an unexpected degree.

It turns out that the age of your brain may be a lesser influence on its structure than what you do with it. Pursuits that require intense mental focus, like language learning, “switch on” the nucleus basalis, the control mechanism for neuroplasticity.

In short, neuroplasticity means you have some control over your cranial fitness. While brain function naturally deteriorates somewhat as you age (though not nearly as much as you might think), various strategic approaches can create new neural pathways and strengthen existing ones as long as you live. What’s more, these efforts to build a better brain can deliver lasting rewards for your overall health.

Here are just a few of neuroscience’s most empowering recent discoveries.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Marilyn J L.

2:40PM PDT on Jul 15, 2011

I'd love to know 6 surprising things that affect my brain, but I refuse to flip through 7 pages to do it. There has got to be a way to shorten these to 2 or no more than 3 pages.

send a green star

Catharine B.

7:55AM PST on Jan 26, 2011

I have always loved the concept of being MINDFUL.
The word expresses it so perfectly.
It is impossible to be mindful and frantic at the same time, to be mindful and disrespectful, to be mindful and oblivious.

To be mindful is to live fully in the moment.

Meditation is the still center of the turning wheel...

Claire C.

8:28PM PST on Nov 24, 2010

The meditation and breathing awareness and exercises and most importantly, I think, the daily gratitude, are a great way to decrease stress and give our brains a relaxation that they need on a regular basis.

Wild T.

9:36AM PST on Nov 19, 2010

Yes, your thoughts can affect your brain more than your brain affect you thoughts. if you think your brain is thinking that it is doing the thinking then it has another think coming...

irene f.

4:17PM PST on Nov 17, 2010

Keep a young mind, Thank you!!!

Carolyn D.

2:05PM PST on Nov 17, 2010

Great article, Thank you.

Debbie M.

1:10AM PST on Nov 15, 2010

This was a great article! Every bit of it made sense to me. And the meditation part goes so well with the teachings of Maitreya of the Mission of Maitreya which recommend to meditate about 30 minutes or so twice a day regularly. www.maitreya.org

Catherine S.

12:49PM PST on Nov 14, 2010

I'm 56 and taking a college course in Anatomy and Physiology. This ties in well with the current chapter we are studying about the CNS. Thanks for the informasion. I know of at least two people besides myself that need this article.