After spending time reading about brain waves, you probably have gotten the impression that slowing down your brain waves from a high-beta state – or even from a normal beta state – down to an alpha or theta brainwave state can be very beneficial. There are tons of great side-effects that can occur from being able to shift your brainwaves to a slower, synchronized rhythm in the alpha or theta wave ranges. In this article, I hoped to cover some of the healthy effects that have long been associated with slowing your brain waves to a slower alpha or theta state of consciousness.

Slower brainwaves improve your memory

Do you often have trouble remembering where you set your car keys? How about your sunglasses? After meeting someone new, are you able to remember their name? Or are you the type of person who remembers the face, but can never remember the name? Maybe you forgot where you placed your i-Pod… You are desperately trying to think of where you put it, but no matter how much thinking you do, you just drive yourself crazy! Then, out of nowhere, a few days later, the exact location of your i-Pod magically pops into your head.

Each time you have the ability to recall a person’s facial features, past events, name (or nickname), or recall any other past information, the rhythms of your brain waves usually change temporarily from a state of beta to one of alpha. If you have ever been stressed for a long period of time, you get what’s called “alpha block.” Alpha block is a reduced ability to generate alpha brainwaves due to the high production rate of high-beta frequencies. When you aren’t able to generate a healthy amount of alpha, you’ll likely have reduced ability to remember things.

Understand that alpha brain waves are like a “go-between” that connect the conscious brain with the subconscious. This is why when you attempt to remember a past event, the brain quickly shifts into an alpha brainwave state – which allows you to dig up a memory from the subconscious and transfer it to your conscious mind. Once it is in the conscious [beta brainwave] mind, you are able to talk about the experience, write about it, and think about it.

Are you able to easily relax?

When you are able to easily relax after a stressful or highly-stimulating event, you’re brain waves are likely very flexible. You are likely easily able to shift to the slower, higher amplitude brainwaves of alpha and theta. In the alpha and theta states, you feel very peaceful, content, and relaxed – no matter what’s going on around you.

What many people may not realize is that it is impossible to access a state of alpha brain waves when you are not relaxed both mentally and physically! I think we all know that being able to remain calm and cool even when others are nervous or scared can definitely help you remain collected and allow you to make wise decisions – even when others are in states of panic. For this reason, slower brainwaves can help you make smart business decisions, peacefully mediate arguments, and even help others remain calm when they are in those high-beta brainwave, panicky states.

Look into the eyes of others

Have you ever looked directly at the eyes of another person when they attempt to remember something or dig up a past memory? It is common, in most people, to look directly up when trying to remember a past event. This is for a good explanation for the “looking up” though: researchers have discovered that each time that your eyes look 30 degrees upwards, the brain produces a short, quick burst of alpha brain waves.

The simple act of “closing your eyes” has been linked to an increased production of alpha brainwaves. Each time that you close your eyelids and look up [with your eyes still closed], the production of alpha brain waves becomes even more powerful. Most researchers on the topic aren’t fully knowledgeable as to why this happens. With that said, many spiritual teachers have come to believe that the increase in alpha is due to accessing your subconscious mind via an energy center on your forehead called the “brow” [or “third-eye”] chakra.

Note: If you’d like to further improve your memory, I highly recommend checking out my article: “Tips To Improve Your Memory.”

Peak performance and improved concentration

States of “peak performance”

Do you ever get the feeling that your life is going perfect? Or have you ever experienced a period of time in your life where you would describe things as “the best?” Maybe you got a hole in one golfing for the first time and improved your score for about a month straight. We all have had times in our lives when everything felt damn near perfect. This state of mind is referred to as “peak performance” or “in the zone.” Everything seems to “flow” perfectly and you feel as if nothing will go wrong. Time goes by incredibly quickly, and before you know it, you’ve already accomplished a huge task – that felt easy.

Though, not all of our days here go as smoothly as when we are in a state of “peak performance” or “optimal functioning.” The phenomenal news is that you can actually train your brain to shift into that “peak performance” or “in the zone” state of consciousness. Often times people aren’t aware that they can consciously replicate this state. Great ways to replicate this state of mind and take control of your reality are as follows:

• brainwave entrainment – you can flex your brain waves to this state temporarily
• meditation - you can take conscious control over your mental state
• neurofeedback – you can train your brain to produce this state
• self-hypnosis – you can train yourself to access a “zone type state.”

Alpha brainwaves improve our ability to concentrate

Alpha brain waves are able to significantly improve our ability to focus and concentrate. Why? Because alpha brain waves make you use both hemispheres of your brain in the process – instead of relying on your dominant side for concentration. Usually, individuals have a hemispheric dominance in their brains: either right or left. The majority of people have a dominant left-hemisphere. When you are able to access the alpha brainwave state, both hemispheres of your brain are able to share the dominance – they work together.

Sports Teams: Beta brainwaves = 1/2 team vs. Alpha brainwaves = full team

Think of it like a sports team – we’ll use football as an example. When you are in a beta brain wave state, usually only your left-hemisphere is active. So to go along with our “football example” – this would be like only the defense playing well, with the team’s offense being a non-factor. This team would likely loose the game, no matter how good their defense plays – they need to score on offense.

When your brain is able to shift down to an alpha brain wave state, think of it as both the offense and defense playing great together. Both are doing a great job and the team will have absolutely zero problems with winning the game. Alpha brain waves: things go much more smoothly when the team is playing well together and every player is performing. Beta brain waves: it is much more difficult to win when only 1/2 the team “shows up to play.”

Boost your overall energy, youth, and happiness

Have you ever wondered why young children have tons of energy in comparison to adults? Usually, children have so much energy and self-esteem that many adults literally can get tired just watching them. They are like little Energizer bunnies the way they keep going and going without any expression of fatigue… Take a second to think about how energized and “pumped up” children feel about their life. Kids always have a positive, happy-go-lucky, ready-for-anything, look on their faces.

Brain waves: Children vs. Adults

Scientists have thoroughly researched the brain waves of children. They found that children spend most of their time in either the “alpha brainwave” pattern, “theta brainwave” pattern, or a heavily mixed combination of both. As children grow up and become adults, their brains begin producing increased beta brain waves.

This is definitely not a bad thing, as mentioned in the article: Beta Brain Waves: Alert, Awake, and Stressful States. Why? Because without beta brain waves, we’d have a difficult time logically communicating, writing, analyzing, thinking, and organizing. The beta brainwave state is optimal for completing tasks like these.

A key problem, though, is that the majority of the adult population fails to recognize that they spend too much time in the beta brainwave state, and don’t get enough alpha or theta waves. The lack of alpha and theta brainwave patterns can reflect the feelings that adults have. Many may feel that “something is missing” in their lives, or even have a midlife crisis and attempt to rediscover their youth.

The alpha and theta waves are what people are missing when they are talking about trying to find the same happiness and carefree attitude as they did when they were a kid. The alpha brainwave patterns can bring back some much needed energy, happiness, and self-esteem that young children generally display. What if you were even able to direct your excess energy towards completing your goals?

You’d be literally unstoppable and the time you spend “working” would seem to fly by because you’d much more zest and excitement in your life. You can only imagine how much better your life would feel if you had extra self-esteem, a larger energy supply, and felt as happy as you did when you were a kid. Likely, you’d have much less resistance when attempting to accomplish bigger goals because you’d feel so great!

A boosted brain = a boosted immune system

Scientific breakthroughs have recently found a direct relationship between the health of the brain and the health of the body. Look up “psychoneuroimmunology” sometime and you’ll read about some interesting discoveries. Psychoneuroimmunologists understand that people who are consistently stressed out, emotionally drained or depressed, or other mental health issues, have a much more difficult time fending off sickness. These individuals come down with sicknesses much more often than those who feel positive, happy, and have a healthier brain.

Other scientific research has shown a clear link between slower brain waves and a quicker “healing time” from bodily injuries such as: bruises, cuts, scratches, or other deep wounds. What’s crazy is that some scientists even believe that when a person is in a state of alpha or theta brain waves, the healing-rate becomes 10 times quicker! This is really an impressive find.

The slower, alpha and theta brain wave patterns are often very common in the brains’ of people who consistently practice meditation. For this reason, it is not at all surprising that individuals who practice meditation can reap significant health-related benefits. Accessing alpha or theta brainwaves for just 20 minutes can result in lowered stress and anger levels, lower blood pressure, headache relief, and in some cases, even a happier mood!

After reading these claims awhile ago, I remained a bit skeptical. With that said, when I finally did some experimentation in the alpha and theta brainwave ranges, I came to notice an improved immune system, I felt healthier, and had more energy than normally. I still did get sick at times, but it was less frequently and I usually recovered at a quicker rate.

Say goodbye to your insomnia

I love the way alpha and theta brainwaves can work wonders for insomniacs. I used to struggle with insomnia and sometimes my only options were to: A) pop a Xanax and fall asleep or B) Stay up until 3:00 A.M. before finally managing to fall asleep. When popping a Xanax, I didn’t like the feeling of being “drugged up,” and having to rely on a pill to fall asleep. That is purely unnatural. When I stayed up until 3:00 A.M. I felt completely burnt out and tired the next day. Both options were horrible and stress had me in what I perceived lose-lose situation.

After finally discovering brainwave entrainment, I began to experiment with various sessions. I realized that in order for us to get quality sleep, our brains need to ’shift’ from the intense, fast-paced beta brainwaves down to alpha brainwaves. Without being able to shift from beta to alpha, we shift from the stressful “high-beta” directly to “theta” or “delta” and skip alpha. Skipping alpha in order to fall asleep results in terrible quality of sleep.

What worked best for me was using various alpha brainwave entrainment sessions via Neuro-Programmer 2 Professional while laying in bed, hoping to fall asleep. It seemed that even if I wasn’t able to fall asleep, I was in fact able to calm my racing-thoughts / rapid-thinking down to a relaxed state. This allowed me to at least fall asleep in a quicker period of time. After a couple weeks of consistently listening to alpha sessions before bed, I was able to fall asleep when I wanted and very quickly.

Stop and take a second to think about this. Being in an alpha brain wave state means feeling both mentally and physically relaxed. When your brain calms down into a state of alpha, the constant chatter [rapid-thoughts] of your beta brainwaves slow down. This state of “idling” in alpha allows your brain to shift even further down into the theta brain wave frequencies. You are now able to enjoy a healthy, good night’s sleep!

It is also important that in the first stage of sleep (N1), your brain always enters alpha. This is why when you slow your brain waves to the alpha range from beta, your brain naturally believes you are ready to fall asleep… Followed by this, something amazing happens: you do! You actually fall asleep and defeat your insomnia! Say goodbye to Ambien, Lunesta, [insert sleeping pill here], Xanax, alcohol, etc. Whoop whoop!

Take a nap and wake up in alpha waves

Waking up in an alpha brainwave state

Ever wake up feeling alert, energized, refreshed, and pumped up for the day? Well, each time that a person wakes up in an alpha brain wave state, they’ll usually feel highly energetic and is literally able to “jump out of bed.” No matter if you just slept a short period of time or a full night – if you wake up in an alpha brain wave state, you’ll feel extremely refreshed. Nearly 20 minutes after falling asleep, your brain shifts down into a state of alpha. After around 20 minutes, your brain dives down into the range of theta brain waves.

Famous people who had much success with “power naps”

The whole key is to wake up in a state of alpha. If you consistently wake up while your brain is in the delta brain wave rhythm or even theta, you will feel very groggy, tired, and will feel like sleeping a lot longer. This is why research has proved that taking a short power nap can increase your overall energy levels and boost your brain power.

When you take a short nap, you are very likely to wake up in a state of alpha. Many influential leaders who enjoyed taking power naps throughout their day include: Nikola Tesla, Albert Einstein, Napoleon Bonaparte, Salvador Dali, Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and Thomas Edison.

Why napping is good for your brain

A study done by researchers at Harvard University, found that individuals who took a small “power nap” at around midday, actually performed better at memory tasks and learning when compared to individuals who didn’t take a nap. Though it may seem ridiculous, many companies who have advocated napping at around lunchtime noticed significantly boosted mood and productivity amongst their workers.

The director at the Sleep Disorder Center of the University of New Mexico, named (Dr.) Amanda Beck, believes that it is best for everyone to take about a 15 minute nap at around noon. Why? Because even taking a 15 minute “power nap” can boost energy in tired workers. Dr. Beck also stated that, “In a lot of ways, taking a nap is lot better than a cup of coffee.” It definitely wouldn’t hurt to remind your boss of this interesting fact when he finds you asleep shortly after lunch break!

Boost your intuition and “gut instinct”

A cool side-effect associated with increased alpha waves- and especially increased theta brainwaves is a boosted intuition or “gut instinct.” Often times using our “gut instinct” and intuition can be of great help when making decisions. When your brain is in an alpha-theta brain wave state, you have access to the subconscious and deeper intuition. Has there ever been a time in your life when you were thinking of a person – and before you know it, you see that same person later in the day?

Some believe that it is the intuition – or even psychic ability – [provided by theta brainwaves] that allows us to be aware that we will probably see the person who pops into our head, predict that a person is going to call before they do, or even predict a song will come on the radio right before it does. This is how things work: alpha brain waves link your conscious mind with your subconscious mind.

When you are in an alpha-theta state, you are able to dig up some subconscious knowledge and intuition and transfer that information from the subconscious [theta waves], through the conscious-subconscious barrier [alpha waves], and into the conscious [beta waves]. This is why when your slower brainwaves are stronger, it is easier to dig up subconscious advice, memories, or other information.

Interesting facts about slow brain waves

Women are naturally more intuitive than men

Have you ever heard the rumor that women have strong intuitions? Well, if you have, that rumor is actually true! After analyzing the brain waves of women and men, scientists learned that most womens’ brains are naturally running at slower brain wave rhythms than the brains’ of men. On average, the brains of women were found to be operating near the alpha range during their waking hours. For this reason, women can tend to dig up a lot of subconscious dirt via their intuition and sense certain things that most men likely aren’t aware of.

Younger children are highly intuitive

Younger children are also very intuitive. Right before arguments or negative situations, most children can sense when there’s something wrong. This is because most kids have plenty of alpha and theta brain waves. Interestingly enough, the same concept applies for animals – your pets. Oddly enough, the brain waves of animals have been discovered to be primarily in the theta range of high intuition and emotion.

Your pets are extremely intuitive too

For the pet owners out there – you probably understand that your dog or cat seems to know when something is wrong or when you feel angry. Many times, animals have been reported as having E.S.P abilities: they warn their caretaker in some way before a devastating event – they usually act very funny or differently. There are also sometimes cases where dogs seem to sense their owners coming back to the house – without actually seeing them pull in to the garage. It is the intuition that is provided by theta waves that gives them some extra knowledge about their owners’ returning to the house.

9 Comments »

Out of all the brainwave patterns, beta brainwaves are most commonly found in awake individuals. They are the fastest brainwave pattern, ranging from 12 Hz to Hz to 38 Hz – [anything beyond 38 Hz is usually classified as the gamma brainwave rhythm]. The left-hemisphere of our brains, involved with the production of beta brainwaves, has been linked to conscious thought and being “fully awake.” Virtually all individuals besides children, and people with A.D.D., are in beta brainwave states upon awakening.

Why do you need beta brainwaves?

Beta brainwaves are what is used by your brain to help you function in society. If you were without any beta brainwaves, you would be unable to function while you are awake. You would basically be an awake, “brain-dead zombie.” As you are reading this article, your brain is generating beta brainwaves. Activities such as: reading, writing, calculations, and work which involves thinking, all require your brain to amp up the production of beta brainwaves.

Other things such as: reasoning, alertness, logical thinking, and critical thinking are all linked to the production of beta brainwaves. Your brain also uses beta brainwaves to memorize things, plan, think deeply, interpret data, and to organize things [including your thoughts].

The older you are, the more beta brainwaves you’ll have.

Beta brainwaves are very common in adults in comparison to children. Therefore, beta brainwaves are considered to be a “grown up” type of brainwave. Scientists have long understood that most children spend most of their waking hours in theta and alpha brainwave states. Researchers have also understood that as children get older and learn to be more “mature” or “grown up,” the amount of their beta brainwaves increase. With very few exceptions, most brains of adults commonly generate lots of the beta rhythm.

Usually, beta brainwaves increase in children when they begin going to school. This makes perfect sense, due to the conscious, left-brain promotion at schools. You are taught to be highly logical and creativity usually isn’t rewarded – except in art or music classes. All of the activities that children do such as: solve math problems, write papers, read books, all increase the production of beta brainwaves and allow the alpha and theta rhythms to slowly dwindle. Nearly every skill that kids learn at school: memorization, planning, logical thinking, and the interpretation of information do a great job at enhancing and promoting the production of beta brainwaves.

Memorization: Beta Brainwaves vs. Alpha Brainwaves

The act of memorizing facts and data is a very different memorization process compared to when an individual is in an alpha brainwaves state. Therefore, I thought it would be helpful to give you a general overview of memorization in both the alpha brainwaves and the beta brainwaves. The most common way for most individuals to memorize something is via “rote learning.” In fact, the whole education system in the United States [and most other countries] is based on “rote-learning.”

Can you remember back to when you were a small child? If you can, think back to when you began to learn multiplication math tables. Likely, you repeated the tables over-and-over again until they were finally embedded into your brain. You probably wrote or vocally repeated the entire multiplication table until it was finally ingrained into your memory.

What’s happening here is that you’re forcing information down your conscious, left-brain and after constant repetition, that information gets transferred to your subconscious. With that said, you are only able to store information into your subconscious mind if you are able to produce alpha brainwave rhythms, not beta brainwaves.

So, by using “rote-learning” for memorizing the multiplication table is like breaking down your front door (beta brainwaves) to get inside your house instead of just using a key (alpha brainwaves). For this reason, you need to sometimes “beat yourself up,” or spend countless hours with “repetition” before you finally memorize the complete multiplication table. This is why most adults can usually benefit greatly from some extra alpha brainwave production.

The memorization process while you are already in the alpha brainwave state is a completely different experience. Memorizing in alpha, as you may have already guessed, is much easier than shoving information down through your beta brainwaves. Memorizing in beta is like choking down food that you don’t like when eating dinner. Memorizing in an alpha state much more natural. It is like eating a food you really like – it goes down smooth and is easy to retain. This is why affirmations are so much more effective when you are in an alpha or a theta brainwaves state – they are easily implanted into the subconscious brain. In the alpha brainwave state, there’s absolutely no need for “rote-learning;” or constant repetition to memorize.

Next time you are trying to memorize something, try it in the alpha brainwave state

The next time that you have something you need to memorize or learn, slow down your brainwave rhythm from beta to the alpha rhythm. If you’re like most people, you’ll realize that the memorization process takes much less time, is a lot easier, and feels completely natural – because you eliminate the need of constant “cramming” or repetition.

If you are looking for more information on how to increase your alpha brainwaves, I recommend reading my article: “Understanding The Alpha Brainwave,” in which I provide some examples. Another phenomenal and quick way to increase the production of your alpha brainwaves is to utilize the technology of brainwave entrainment. I recommend Neuro-Programmer 2 Professional, due to the high rate of success that many people [including myself] have experienced with the software.

Slower brainwaves linked to being “down to Earth”

Another interesting fact is that individuals who feel connected to nature and are “down to Earth,” usually have slower brainwave patterns in the alpha, and sometimes even the theta brainwave ranges. These “down to Earth” people actually have brainwaves that are much closer to children than most other adults. And this does not reflect their maturity level, it just resembles that they actually show the exact same type of appreciation for nature as children.

The main problem with most highly-mature individuals or adults is that they actually generate too much beta brainwaves in relation to alpha and theta brainwave rhythms. This is why they don’t feel the same energy and youthfulness that many hope to recreate in their lives. It’s funny because recreating this state can be relatively easy with brainwave entrainment or via practicing meditation.

Ever feel stressed out? Blame High-Beta brainwaves

Higher beta brainwaves usually above 18 Hz can result in feelings of: tenseness, anxiety, stress, and nervousness. When your brainwave levels increase above 30 Hz, they’ll interfere with your ability to think clearly and effectively process, and understand your own thoughts. I have personally experienced stress to such a high-degree in the past, that I literally felt as if I had little control over my life due to the constant rapid generation of completely random – sometimes unwanted – thoughts.

High-beta brainwaves and random, stressful thoughts

When your brainwave levels climb the charts, up to the high beta brain wave frequencies, neurons (brain cells) begin firing at random and in an unorganized pattern. This leads to a highly-unfocused, completely disorganized, and confusing state of mind to be in. I can testify for this claim, because I personally have experienced this state. This is another reason that A.D.D. / A.D.H.D. can be experienced in high-beta brainwave states. When your brainwave state remains in high-beta for any extended period of time, you will likely experience a “nervous breakdown.”

Lateralization and high-beta brainwaves

In the majority of people, either the left or right hemisphere is more dominant than the other. This “dominance” by one half of the brain is defined as “brain lateralization.” As your amount of beta brainwaves increase, brainwaves from both sides of your brain can easily get thrown out of sync and “brain lateralization” can be significantly affected.

Slower brainwaves and neural communication

When you allow your brainwave patterns to slow down to the alpha and theta ranges, their is usually much more brain synchronization and communication amongst your neurons. The neurons in your brain begin to efficiently communicate and fire in a healthy, pattern. They aren’t firing at random like they do when you’re in a stressful state of mind.

Say goodbye to all stress and worries

When you do in fact manage to shift down to a theta or alpha brainwaves state, you’ll feel peaceful, calm, refreshed, and natural. Most things that stressed you out in the beta brainwave state may not even bother you anymore. There’s really not many worrisome-type thoughts that ever surface when you’re in an alpha brainwave state.

Are your thoughts becoming a nuisance or self-defeating?

Are you ever excited about beginning a difficult, challenging project? Well, have you ever heard a self-defeating or negative little voice from within that emerges with rapid thoughts telling you that you can’t do it? It’s almost like a voice trained to attack our dreams or any big goals that we have. It may even begin asking questions like: “Do you really think you can do it?” “Isn’t that task a little bit too tough for you?” “How are you possibly going to do that?” All of those questions are asked with hopes that you’ll give in to that little [annoying] voice inside your head and quit your project.

High-beta brainwaves throw away dreams

When you allow your mind to “give in” to this little pestering voice, you actually can talk yourself out of rewarding tasks before you even start! This is terrible. Before long, if you allow this voice to control your life, you satisfy for much less than you know you are capable of doing and accomplishing in this lifetime. Giving in to this voice is like throwing all of your aspirations and dreams out the window and settling for mediocrity. This is incredibly depressing and self-defeating.

High-beta brainwaves make you “sweat the small stuff”

Sometimes, you need to lay down the law and get that voice to shut up! First of all, realize that the bothersome voice is due to an increase of high-beta brainwaves. It’s not really a state you want to be in for any extended period of time. When you allow high-beta brainwaves to overtake your mind, it goes into a rapid-thinking “overdrive” brainwave state. This high-beta brainwave state will make you think deeply about little. Basically, these brainwaves make you “sweat the small stuff.”

Reliving the past or fearing the future

In most cases, high-beta brainwaves cause individuals to either: remember negative events or experiences in the past OR imagine a scary, fearful-type future. This obviously, easily creates states of high-anxiety, self-doubt, and negativity. If you’re like most people, you don’t want to experience depression or anxiety… So, all you really need to do is slow down your high brainwave patterns.

Insomnia and beta brainwaves

Have you ever laid down on your bed with expectations to fall asleep, but you never were able to fall completely asleep? You end up spending most of the nighttime hours tossing, turning, and feel like you need to “try harder” in order to fall asleep. Your body may even be physically tired, but for some frustrating reason, you can’t seem to quiet down your brain. Thoughts flood your mind and no matter what you do, your brain cannot seem to access the lower states of theta and delta brain waves that allow you to sleep.

Missing alpha brainwaves is like driving stick-shift without a gear

This is due to the fact that most people’s brains shift from beta down to the slower alpha brainwaves right before falling asleep. And shorty after accessing alpha, they fall into a deep theta or delta brainwave state of sleep. When your brain is in a prolonged state of high-beta, alpha brainwave production is significantly hindered or diminished.

Because of this, your brain has a difficult time shifting to alpha before sleep and when you finally are able to fall asleep – you inefficiently shift from beta to theta or delta – while skipping alpha. Think of it like driving a stick-shift [manual] vehicle with 3rd gear missing. You need to shift your brainwaves from 4th gear down to 1st, but 3rd is missing. You can bet that you will experience some difficulty and problems like insomnia.

A personal experience with insomnia

I used to have a lot of difficulty dealing with insomnia. I would be thinking about my future, past experiences, stressful experiences, the health of others, my personal health, etc. My brain was flooded with rapid, uncontrollable thoughts that really hurt the quality of my sleep. As a result of this “rapid thinking,” I often times wouldn’t be able to fall asleep until the early morning hours.

Insomniacs should avoid certain substances

At the time, I was completely unaware of beta brainwaves, and had no idea that shifting my brain to a slower pattern like alpha would significantly help with my insomnia dilemma. It really wasn’t until I began using Neuro-Programmer 2 Professional that I was able to consistently get a healthy night’s sleep. The only interference with slowing brainwaves are substances like caffeine, stimulants, or anything increasing beta brainwaves. Substances like stimulants change your brainwave patterns and make is very difficult to sleep after ingesting them.

“Natural leaders” and decision making

You probably know people who usually make terrible decisions when they are stressed out or in a state of panic. People who are born “natural leaders” are almost always able to think clearly, stay calm, cool, and collected even when faced with scary, frustrating, or panic-type events and situations. This is why they are “natural leaders,” they are able to react in a calm manner to any situation – no matter how stressful.

Why beta brainwaves are healthy

With all of the unhealthy effects surrounding “high-beta brainwaves,” it is not at all surprising to me that many individuals come to believe that all “beta brainwaves” are terrible and that other brainwave patterns are always better. However, this could not be further from the truth! There are tons of benefits to having a healthy production of beta brainwaves.

Though high-beta brainwaves are far from optimal, regular (low to medium) beta brainwaves are healthy. Beta brainwaves are the best brainwaves for concentration, critical-thinking, scheduling, planning, and for the interpretation of data. And our entire education system involves learning how to do most tasks in beta brainwave states. Most business operations and companies are carried out by using the logical beta-brainwaves.

With that said, it can be very difficult for some individuals to eliminate stress and quiet their “inner self-defeating voice” – especially when you’ve had negative thought patterns for an extended period of time. The most effective way to slow those high-beta brainwave patterns that’s worked great for me is Neuro-Programmer 2 Professional in combination with activities like meditation, self-hypnosis, and other positive lifestyle changes such as: eating good “brain foods.”

Other than the mentioned activities, there are some great techniques that you can use to help you relax that I’ve written in my article 20 Ways To Murder Stress: Killer Relaxation Tips. So, next time you notice that you’re getting stressed out, you should be able to relax knowing that there are so many solutions towards reducing your high-beta brainwaves to slower, more relaxing ones. You’ll feel great, healthy, and have the necessary technique to remain calm, cool, and collected in even the most intense situations. This control over your beta brainwaves gives you full control over your reality and actually boosts your brain power to make coping with stress much easier.

1 Comment »

Introduction

Ever wonder how you’re brain is able to control the perception of time? At times it seems as if life is flying by – especially when we are involved in a fun activity or event. At other times, though, when we are stressed out or witness a scary event, time seems to stop or even freeze in our brains. Our perception of time is different from person to person, and definitely has a deep biological-rooted influence from within our brains.

Though we have things like watches and clocks to help us keep track of time, our brain is involved in the perception of how fast time passes. Like I’ve already mentioned, some people feel that one hour of listening to country music may go by extremely quick, while for others [that maybe aren't interested in this genre] feel as if one hour was actually 3 or 4 hours. Being able to keep track of time is a skill that our brains’ have that allows us to determine what is happening in our surroundings and when to respond to that event.

Simple functions that we take for granted such as: hearing speech are even involved in our brain’s perception of time. As an example: we need to tell where a voice is coming from, how long the sound of it takes to reach our ears, etc. Also, when we respond to voices through the act of “talking,” we need to be timely with our responses.

Animals and studies of “time perception”

Researchers have found that telling time is even widely utilized by animals. University of Edinburgh researchers were able to study hummingbirds to determine how they told time. Researchers used fake flowers with sugar inside. They found that after hummingbirds drank the sweet nectar contained within real flowers, it took time for the flowers to replenish their nectar supply. The fake flowers were refilled every 10 minutes , while the real flowers were filled every 20 minutes. The hummingbirds were able to catch on to the time period it took for the nectar came back into both the real and the fake flowers.

Many other animals are also great time-tellers. Research on rats at the University of Georgia showed that rats do a phenomenal job at telling time. Rats can be taught to wait over 2 days after a meal to poke their noses through a trough and be given fresh food. Psychologists have hypothesized [for over 40 years] that both animals and human beings kept track of time with a biological version of a “stopwatch.” They strongly believed that within our brains, we had a “series of pulses” that were being generated. They thought that when our brains needed to “time an event,” a gate opened and those electrical pulsations turned into a “counting device.

The flawed brain-clock model of “time perception”

There was definitely good reasoning behind the brain-clock model of time perception. You’re time perception always will speed up when you are caught up in a pleasurable or fun event, while your brain will naturally slow down time perception when you are in a place you dislike or feel stressed out. These good and bad experiences were believed by psychologists to trigger the “pulsation generator” within our brains – thus speeding or slowing time depending on the given situation.

With that said, the biological roots within the brain don’t work like “clocks” that we understand. Neurons in our brain are able to produce steady pulses, however, our brain doesn’t have what it takes to count accurate pulses for even a few seconds. How we tell time is definitely far from the way a clock tells time. This is why scientists had to dismiss the brain-clock theory mentioned above.

Had our brains been built to work like that, we’d definitely be able to do a great job at estimating long periods of time better than short ones. Any individual or single pulses from the hypothetical clock within would be either a bit too slow, or a bit too fast. In short periods of time, the brain would begin to retain just a few short pulses, leaving plenty of room for error. The extra pulses that our brain would naturally error, would cancel themselves out [i.e. errors of telling time would be canceled out by the brain]. Though it sounds like it could be true, it’s not. Whenever we estimate longer periods of time, our errors don’t cancel themselves out – they keep accumulating.

What does our brain use to tell time?

At this day in age, tons of new breakthroughs and experiments are surfacing to help scientists better understand time within the brain. Things such as: studying genetically engineered mice, computer simulations in combination with E.E.G.’s, are being used to help scientists. The results of their studies prove that our brain doesn’t use any form of a “stopwatch.”

Our brains do not work like clocks or stopwatches that come to mind when we think of elapsed time. Instead, our brains utilize several other methods in order to tell time. Neuroscientist Dean Buonomano from U.C.L.A. believes that our brains tell time like they were observing “ripples in a pond.” He continues to argue that they perceive time in “fractions of seconds.” Let’s say you are listening to the sound of a summer cricket. The criket’s chirps are split by just one-tenth of a second. The cricket’s very first chirp immediately perks up our auditory neurons.

Sound signals are sensed by the neurons for less than half a second – same time as it takes ripples from a skimming a rock across the river to disappear. When the second cricket chirp is heard, the auditory neurons are still perked up. Therefore, the second chirp creates a different signal pattern. Dean Buonomano believes that our brains are able to compare the first pattern to the second patter in order to determine how much time has elapsed. Basically, the brain doesn’t contain an internal clock, because the telling of time is fixed in our neuronal behavior.

Dean Buonomano Theory vs. Warren Meck Theory

Should the U.C.L.A. researcher’s [Dean Buonomano] theory turn out to be correct, he will have explained only the “fast time telling” within the brain. Why? Because after half-of-a-second, the ripples in our brain clear out. On a bigger scale, which would range from a few seconds to a few hours, there must be a different way to study the brain’s time control processing.

That’s where Duke University’s Warren Meck comes into play. He has a different theory stating that: the brain measures long periods of time by producing pulses. However, he also believes that the brain doesn’t count the pulses like the way a “clock does.” He strongly believes that the brain listens to the pulses in the same way that our ears listen to music.

Warren Meck started developing his first “musical model” of time processing when he was studying the time perception of rodents; more specifically, the time perception of rats. All that Meck needed to do in order to kill their time processing was to destroy certain neuronal clusters within their brains. After taking a closer look at the situation, Meck found that some of these neurons differed from the rest of the neurons in the brain.

Each neuron was linked to a at least 20,000 other neurons in the brain. The “linked neurons” were able to be seen throughout the cortex. Many even linked to the outer parts of the brain which handle “sophisticated information processing.” While other neurons were linked to “controlling vision,” and even others worked to bind other areas into our perception. Because these neurons received many signals from “all over the brain,” he believes that these medium spiny neurons provide us with an accurate perception of time.

Picture yourself listening to a 30 second constant sound. At the beginning of listening to the constant sound, your neurons [found within your cortex] will reset themselves in order to fire in synchronized fashion. Some of the neurons fire faster than others, while others remain inactive. In between one split second and the next, the medium spiny neurons are able to read a unique pattern of signals from the many [20,000 +] interconnected neurons.

The pattern changes similar to pitch changes in between various notes of music. When the 30 seconds of the beat are up, the medium spiny neurons are able to “listen” to the “pitch changes” to determine the amount of elapsed time. Warren Meck has been able to provide evidence supporting his theory. How? Warren has recorded neuronal electrical activity and analyzed them deeply and has studied individuals with a “skewed sense of time.”

Healthy brains vs. Drugged brains & time perception

There are also specific neurotransmitters like dopamine which control the pulsing of neurons. Crystal meth and cocaine are examples of drugs that control the pulsing rate of neuron groups. They do this by overpowering the brain with abnormally high levels of dopamine. Several studies have proven the increased dopamine to have a profound effect on changing the perception of time.

In 2007, U.C.L.A. also ran an experiment. In the experiment, scientists rang a bell after 53 seconds of pure silence. Healthy individuals were told to guess how much time had passed. Most guessed an average of 67 seconds of time had elapsed. People on stimulants [which boost the amount of dopamine in the brain] guessed that an average of 91 seconds had passed. Many other drugs have the exact opposite effect on the amount of dopamine in the brain – thus compressing the subjective experience of time.

In even the most healthy brains, the processing of time varies. Staring at a scary face for 5 seconds feels significantly longer than staring at a neutral or happy one. It may not even be coincidence that pulse-generating neurons are embedded within regions of the brain that process emotionally-charged sounds and sights. Recently, researcher Amelia Hunt from Harvard University addressed the idea that every time we move our eyes, we may in fact be “pushing back our mental time.”

Amelia Hunt’s research at Harvard University

Even more recently, Amelia Hunt conducted an experiment where she had individuals stare “straight ahead” with a ticking clock off to one side of their gazes. Hunt then asked the individuals to move their eyes in order to see the clock. She told them to attempt to remember the time each time they had looked at the clock. On average, participants reported seeing the clock about four one-hundreths of a second before their eyes actually arrived at the clock.

The act of “pushing back” time may actually be a good thing, believes Hunt. It may allow us to cope with our slightly imperfect nervous systems. Every person has a highly-dense patch of light-sensitive cells in our retinas. These cells have been dubbed the name: fovea. We must move and jerk our eyes around several times in order for our fovea to generate an accurate, detailed image of our environment and surroundings; this gives the fovea enough time for scaling the features of our surroundings. The stream of signals from our eyes creates a series of jumps or bumps on the road. The human brain naturally will then allude us to believe that we are experiencing one complete “flow of reality.” When our brain realizes that it is still editing the “signaling jumps,” we may have errors in time perception.

Embedding time in our memories

However, the most shocking reworking of time may be the way it gets embedded in our memories. We usually always recall memories that include both: what happened, and when it happened. We understand how much time has passed since a certain past event by drumming up an event of the old memory. People who have brain damage as a result from injury or surgery – which depleted a certain part of the brain – gives researchers clues as to the way the brain embeds time within memories.

In 2007, scientists from France studied a group of individuals that were suffering from left-temporal lobe brain damage. The study participants then watched a film in which a familiar object appeared on the screen and reappeared a few minutes later [8 minutes later]. The study participants were then told to guess how much time had passed since first seeing the familiar object and seeing it for a second time. On average, the brain-damaged participants thought 8 minutes was really around 13 minutes. Healthy brain subjects were only off in guessing by roughly only one minute.

These type of experiments are great progress for researchers and scientists. They are slowly bridging the gap and honing in more on the regions of the brain which store memories of time. What is still unknown, is how these brain regions are able to record and understand time. Listening in on the brain’s signaling for a few minutes is one thing, but it is completely different [and much more complex] to understand how the brain’s neural networks of memories are able to deposit and withdraw [for later recollection] elapsed time during certain events.

Compressing memories of time [Berlin research]

It is interesting though, because scientists have by no means given up on understanding time-control in the brain. Researchers in Berlin, Germany have been working to build an accurate model of how memories may embed time. When neurons produce a normal generation of signals, some signals are received sooner – while others, a little later. These Berlin researchers believe that as the neurons communicate with one another, they pass the signals. While they are passing the signals, they can create slight adjustments ["wobbles"] – some bigger, some smaller. With these tiny “wobbles,” the brain is able to embed memories of time by compressing them. The brain is able to compress memories of several seconds down to “several hundreths” of a second. This allows the brain to save it’s space and easily have enough room to store many memories.

When your brain stores time in its memories, the brain is able to alter it in another significant way. Your brain could record the time such that we recall the events in a “backwards order.” M.I.T. researchers found that the brain was able to form reverse memories. They ran an experiment which included rats running down a track and stopping to eat food at the end of the track. When rats become more familiar with their environment, individual neurons became more active when they reached familiar spots.

Researchers discovered what are called “place cells.” These “place cells” fired off signals when rats moved to different places along the track. When the rats took a break and stopped to eat, researchers checked their brain activity again. They realized that the “place cells” fired again – due to the fact that memories of the track became stronger within their brains. However, the “place neurons” at the end of the track signaled first. The ones at the beginning of the track fired last. It is definitely possible, though, that we can reverse time processing in our memories in order to focus on our brains’ on something rewarding or a goal. Though we are not free from time, we are able to maintain some control over it. Our brains can bend it and twist it to properly fit our needs and reality.

14 Comments »

Scientists and brain researchers have known that the foods that we allow our body to digest have a direct effect on how well our brain functions and performs. The foods in which we eat can have a huge affect on our mood, energy levels, and even on our brains’ neurotransmitter levels (i.e. serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine). The focus of this article is to help you learn and fully understand how certain nutrients found in certain types of foods can have a direct effect on the functioning ability of your brain.

Certain foods have the ability to improve things like: our intelligence levels, memory tasks, ability to focus, and overall cognition. The 7 “brain foods” listed below are considered “good brain foods” [as opposed to "bad brain foods"]. Eating these foods consistently along with a balanced diet should allow you to boost the mental processing speed of your brain. If you consistently eat healthy “good brain foods,” you can even slow the aging process: in both your body and brain.

Below, I’ve compiled a list of “7 Brain Foods For Optimal Brain Health”:

1. Almonds

Though almonds don’t appear very powerful from their exterior, their insides contain powerful nutrients that will ultimately boost your brain power. Almonds have also been known to slow aging and stabilize irritable moods. As small as they are, almonds have so much to offer for the health of your brain, that it is wise to add them to your diet as frequently as possible.

Almonds contain a vital chemical named phenylalanine – which works to enhance our cognitive processing (i.e. thoughts, memory, planning) and is shown to promote healthy brain functioning. Phenylalanine passes easily though our brain-blood barrier, which aids in our brain’s natural production of the neurotransmitter dopamine.

Almonds also contain the nutrients L-carnitine and Riboflavin – both of which are healthy for our brain. The amount of L-carnitine that is found in almonds is even significant enough to help improve our memories. If you enjoy almonds, adding a few handfuls to your day could prove to be a delicious treat that helps your brain!

2. Blueberries

Blueberries are one of the single healthiest foods for your brain. Eating blueberries helps boost the power of neuron communication, efficiency of overall electrical activity in the brain, and even help prevent brain aging. One study showed that rats who were fed blueberries were able to produce new brain cells [i.e. neurogenesis]. In another, fairly recent study, subjects that ate one cup of blueberries on a daily basis for over 2 weeks had an increased hippocampus cell birth rate [i.e. new brain cells were being created in the hippocampus region of the brain - responsible for memory processing].

In another study, students who ate blueberries even scored higher on classroom tests than subjects who opted out of adding blueberries to their diets. Ellagic acid, a phytochemical found in blueberries, has been linked to the prevention of cellular damage in the brain. Eating blueberries is also understood to prevent oxidative stress in the brain and prevent damage caused by “free radicals.” Not only that, but they have also been linked to preventing the development of Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia.

After researching “good brain foods,” I personally think that blueberries [along with fish] rank number one due to their ability to create a state of neurogenesis a.k.a. the production of new brain cells in our brain’s hippocampus region. Get yourself to the store and buy some blueberries now if you aren’t already fully stocked!

3. Green tea

Ahh, on to the magical drink: Green tea. Green tea is a phenomenal drink to help boost your brain. It contains compounds [such as catechines] that have been linked to memory improvements, improvement in concentration, and it gives the brain an energy booster when fatigued. A positive, well-balanced mood is a well-known side-effect in result of drinking Green tea.

It has been linked to improvements in mood disorders and has been shown to improve signaling strength in brain circuits. Green tea also contains polyphenols – healthy antioxidants that allow us to produce healthy amounts of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotranmitter that is associated with: advanced thought, communication, planning, thinking, and pleasure. Boosting your overall amount via drinking Green tea would be of great benefit to anyone!

A great idea would be to ditch your daily coffee routine and drink Green tea instead! You’ll feel less stressed out, just as energized, and ready to conquer the day with peace of mind and clarity of thought. The polyphenols [healthy antioxidants] that Green tea provides have been linked to reduced risk of developing both heart disease and cancer.

4. Eggs

Contrary to popular belief, people can eat eggs without having any adverse effects on the incidence of cardiovascular disease, according to an extensive study from the Harvard School of Public Health. Eggs contain the vital nutrient “cholin” – which plays a large role in effectively allowing us to process memory and improve our brain’s overall motor functioning. University of North Carolina researcher Steven Zeisel discovered that brains’ of babies whose mothers were given cholin supplements showed “increased memory capacity and functioning.”

For around only 70 calories, eggs are one of the most highly-nutritious foods to include in your diet. Healthy minerals, vitamins, and proteins are packed-full in eggs. Groups of researchers have even found that choline can increase the size of our brain’s neurons [brain cells]. Increasing their size allows them to strongly and more precisely fire electrical signals for quicker brain communication.

Zeaxanthin and lutein, which are two antioxidants found in the yolk of eggs, have even been linked to a reduced risk of developing macular degeneration, cataracts, and other optical problems that have long been associated with the aging process. If you’re the type of person who enjoys eating eggs for breakfast, you’ll also be lucky to receive the brain boosting side-effects.

5. Walnuts

Walnuts contain helpful antioxidants that walnuts contain include: vitamin B6 and vitamin E. Both of these vitamins revitalize your nervous system, which in turn, actually refreshes your brain. Omega-3 fatty acids [alpha-linoleic acids], which work wonders for boosting brain functioning and power. The omega-3 fatty acids strengthen brain cell membranes, and are a necessary fat that our brain needs in order to make us smarter.

You may not have known, but over half of our brain is comprised of structural fat – mostly Omega-3 fatty acid [which can be found in: flaxseed, walnuts, and fish]. Our brain’s cell membranes become much more flexible and are able to remove unhealthy “chemical waste” when we feed them Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3′s aren’t found in most foods, which is why the act of eating walnuts is such a phenomenal way to get a healthy amount. [I personally take fish oil capsules to fulfill my personal requirements].

Walnuts have also been linked to helping the regulation process of the neurotransmitter: serotonin. Having a healthy amount of serotonin has been linked to having a happier, more positive mood and healthy appetite. Disorders like: anxiety, depression, insomnia, anger, panic disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder are all linked to [usually low] amounts of serotonin. Eating walnuts, may be just the extra boost you need for regulating serotonin and reducing symptoms of mood disorders.

Walnuts can also ward off unfocused [A.D.D.-type] thinking and allow us to think clearly with a more positive outlook on life. One last thing about walnuts… Take a close look at the outside of a walnut: it looks similar to the anatomy of the human brain! Walnuts appear as if they’re 2 hemispheres of our brain mashed up next to each other.

6. Dark Chocolate

It’s definitely difficult to fathom that something as tasty as chocolate can actually be good for your brain health. Though it may be difficult for some of us to believe, there is scientifically-proven evidence showing that dark chocolate can be extremely good for the health of our body and brain when eaten in healthy amounts.

What separates dark chocolate from other types of chocolate is the amount of antioxidants that are packed within it. Dark chocolate actually improves our focus levels via its production of healthy endorphins. It also contains mood-brightening stimulants. The one thing that it also contains that separates it from the pack is flavannols. Dark chocolate’s high amount of overall flavanols boost blood flow to the brain and improve our cognition.

For all the dark chocolate haters: I haven’t yet found strong evidence that regular, milk-chocolate is able to improve brain power and functioning – sorry. But for all of the wonderful individuals that enjoy eating dark-chocolate in moderation ['too much' is unhealthy] are actually improving the health of their body – and most importantly – the health of their brains’!

7. Spinach

Have you been aware of the fact that heart disease is a strong indicator of memory decline? Anyways, a brain food that is able to prevent both heart disease and memory decline is spinach. Spinach is a great food that allows your body to keep high-levels of folic acid, which help prevent heart disease by reducing the amount of the ammino acid: homocysteine.

When homocysteine is found in high levels throughout the body, it has been linked to worsening of memory, Alzheimer’s disease, and even heart attacks. The key is to lower the amount of this [potentially unhealthy] ammino acid lurking inside your body. Eating spinach is a phenomenal way to accomplish this. Spinach also contains tons of healthy vitamins and nutrients such as: vitamin K [helps aid "blood clotting"] and magnesium.

Spinach also helps to control and balance the overall amount of water in your body. It can even help eliminate bloating and slow down effects of age-related brain decline. It helps prevent oxidative stress and regulates “free radicals” which can potentially kill brain cells. Many scientific researchers believe that having a diet which is rich in spinach can improve memory and learning skills.

So next time you are debating in your mind as to whether or not you should eat spinach – ask yourself what Popeye would do. Be like Popeye and eat it up. Instead of picturing your muscles getting stronger, picture your brain getting stronger and more powerful! The more that you’re able to include spinach in your diet, the better.

Final thoughts:

The brain really needs to have a good, healthy diet in order to ensure peak performance and health. Providing it with healthy vitamins and nutrients via our diet [foods we eat], will increase its power, prevent aging, allow us to focus, and reap the major benefits associated with having a healthy brain. After reading this article, it should be absolutely zero surprise that every meal you eat affects your: thought process, mood, behavior, and overall intelligence. After all, if it was possible to eat your way to brilliance, wouldn’t you take the opportunity?

For more in-depth information on brain foods, see the article: 5 Supercharged Brain Foods.

No comments »

Note: If you enjoy this article, consider reading Brain Foods: List Of 50 Good Brain Foods.

What are “bad brain foods”?

Know and understand which foods impede brain development

Though it is very important and beneficial to know and understand which foods will help you boost your brain power, it is also great to understand which types of food groups will decrease brain power and potentially kill brain cells. It is obvious that most illicit drugs and alcoholic beverages kill brain cells quickly, but there are many other foods that limit or restrict brain power. Foods that provide both your brain and body with little or nutritional value are considered “bad brain foods.”

Some interesting facts about food vs. body vs. brain

Did you know: Foods that clog arteries will naturally also reduce blood flow to the brain? Foods with high glycemic indexes can also cause wild, detrimental blood-sugar swings that make both your body and brain weaker and less powerful. Foods that are bad for the development and health of your brain often have the following characteristics: high levels of refined sugar, white flour, trans fat and polyunsaturated fat, salt, and numerous food additives such as monosodium glutamate and tartrazine. They are also usually lacking in: proteins, fiber, vitamins, and other healthy attributes.

Foods that are bad for the health of your brain are also terrible for your body. Not only can certain foods cause mental health problems, they can manifest other health-related problems including: obesity, Type-2 diabetes, dental cavities and heart disease. Therefore, in order to heighten your awareness of the foods that are terrible for both the health and development of your body and brain, I’ve compiled a list. Below is a list consisting of what I refer to as “bad brain foods.”

A list of “Bad Brain Foods” and other unhealthy substances:

1. Alcohol
2. Artificial flavoring
3. Artificial food coloring
4. Artificial sweeteners
5. Cereal bars
6. Cheetos
7. Chicharrones
8. Corn syrup
9. Doughnuts
10. Energy drinks (i.e. Monster, Red Bull)
11. Falafel
12. Frostings
13. Gyros
14. Gyozas
15. Highly greasy foods
    
16. High-sugar beverages
17. Hydrogenated fats
18. Jellybeans
19. Junk sugars
20. Marshmellows
21. Nicotine
22. Processed food
23. Rice cakes
24. Sodas (diet and regular)
25. Twinkies
26. White bread
27. White rolls

Understanding “bad brain foods”:

Alcohol and nicotine harm the brain

Most types of alcohol have potential to kill brain cells. Any substances containing nicotine will cut-off or restrict blood flow to the brain. The restriction of blood flow due to nicotine reduces efficient delivery of healthy substances like oxygen and glucose. Nicotine also tightens capillaries, which plays a large role in obstructing the delivery of blood and healthy nutrients to neurotransmitters – messengers which allow neurons (brain cells) to interact and communicate with one another.

Cut hydrogenated fats from your diet

A substance that is absolutely terrible for your brain is hydrogenated fats. In general, most hydrogenated fats cause the body to suffer initially by causing your arteries to clog and your heart to weaken. Though the effects aren’t usually noticeable right away, in the long term, these fats have high potential to cause heart disease.

In comparison, the short term effects of nicotine are equivalent to the long term effects from ingesting hydrogenated fats. Due to the high likelihood that these fats can significantly endanger the health of your brain, it is a good idea to replace them in your diet. You can easily do this by making healthy food and beverage choices.

Stay away from artificial flavorings, artificial sweeteners, and artificial colorings

It is extremely wise to do yourself a favor and try to skip eating substances that contain “artificial” ingredients. Any substance with artificial flavorings, artificial sweeteners, or artificial colorings is a slight hazard to the health of your brain. The degree to which they harm the brain is actually intensified in younger children. Therefore, it may be wise [as a parent] to limit allowing your children to eat artificially-enhanced candies and foods.

Why certain foods were chosen for the list of “bad brain foods”

The other “bad brain foods” make the list because they cause a crash-and-burn effect. This crash-and-burn effect is caused by “bad brain foods” causing your blood sugar levels to rise high temporarily – putting high amounts of stress on the pancreas. Whereas healthy, “good brain foods” cause a steady, balanced absorption of blood sugars in the pancreas – thus preventing the crash-and-burn effect.

Use common sense to choose “good brain foods“

There is no need to memorize the complete list posted above. In fact, all you really need to know is to use common sense before shoving down your food. Be conscious about your food choices and eating habits. Here is a quick recap of what you should stay away from: refined sugar products, anything “artificial” [i.e. flavors, colors, sugars], refined flour products, all drugs, and most types of alcohol. Also, any substance [i.e. snickers bars, candies, etc.] that you know will give you a ton of initial energy, but cause you to crash-and-burn later, should be avoided.

The energy supply to your brain is from utilizing and breaking down blood sugars. Your brain uses at least 20% of all carbohydrates that you ingest. With that said, you brain prefers to intake the blood sugars in a certain way. It likes a constant, steady supply of blood sugars without interruptions or other extreme changes caused by substances on the list above.

Simple carbohydrates put stress on the pancreas, negatively affect blood sugar levels

Virtually all simple carbohydrates have potential to cause wild, uncontrollable shifts in the effective processing of your food by the brain. Simple carbohydrates such as: processed flour products and sugary foods usually cause uncontrollably wild changes in blood sugar levels. Any type of sugary food or processed flour generate an initial sugar-high in the bloodstream, which in turn will trigger an equally powerful rush of insulin shipped from the pancreas. Simple carbohydrates also have been linked to diabetes, so it is definitely wise to cut back or eliminate them from your diet.

Low blood sugar levels a.k.a. hypoglycemia

Because the body is manufacturing so much insulin from the pancreas, this leads to plummeting, low blood sugar levels – commonly dubbed with the term: hypoglycemia. Eventually, this will trigger the release of adrenals and adrenaline hormones like cortisol and epinephrine. Both of these have potential to kill brain cells and put stress on your liver.

A rollercoaster ride: “sugar lows” vs. “sugar highs”

Once you eat the unhealthy foods that cause your blood sugar levels go rapidly rise, you hop on an unexpected rollercoaster filled with “sugar lows” and “sugar highs.” The rapid-changing highs and lows in blood sugar levels can actually cause chemical [neurotransmitter] imbalances in the brain. You can shift from feeling happy and energetic on your “glucose high,” to feeling sleepy, irritable, unfocused (A.D.D.), or aggitated.

A healthy diet will improve your mental health

People must realize that diet plays an extremely huge role in the health of your brain. Certain individuals can even be labeled as having some sort of mental health problem [i.e. a disease or disorder] that is stemming from their diet. For most individuals, their diet is not 100% at fault for causing the effects of their disease. However, healthy dietary changes can help people improve their mood and / or reduce the overall intensity of their mental health problems.

For more in-depth information on brain foods, see the article: 5 Supercharged Brain Foods.

3 Comments »

Note: If you enjoy this article, consider reading Brain Foods: List Of “Bad Brain Foods”.

What are “brain foods”?

Brain foods are foods that help improve functioning within the brain. One example of a brain food is fish. Fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids which allow the blood vessels of the brain to remain healthy and fluid. Fish also provides nerve cells within the brain with necessary nutrients that allow cells to function at their highest level.

Due to the profound benefits that have largely been associated with eating fish, it is recommended to include fish within your diet at least a couple times per week. If you cannot include fish within your diet, you may want to consider taking fish oil supplements. Taking supplements and eating fish have been proven to be equally as effective.

There are many great foods that have been researched and documented to boost brain power. Knowing which foods boost brain power will allow you to make necessary dietary changes that will positively impact your brain. I’ve compiled a list of 50 Good Brain Foods and posted them below. Beneath the list is a section featuring more information about “good brain foods,” more information about the glycemic index, and other various food technicalities.

A list of “50 Good Brain Foods“:

1. Acai berries
2. Almonds
3. Avocados
4. Bananas
5. Blackberries
6. Blueberries
7. Brewer’s yeast
8. Broccoli
9. Brown rice
10. Brussels sprouts
11. Cantaloupe
12. Cashews
13. Cauliflower
14. Cherries
15. Cheese
16. Chicken
17. Collard greens
18. Cranberries
19. Dark chocolate
20. Eggs
21. Eggplant
22. Fish
23. Flaxseed oil
24. Green Tea
25. Lean beef
26. Legumes
27. Milk
28. Oatmeal
29. Oranges
30. Peanut butter
31. Peas
32. Plums
33. Potatoes
34. Pumpkin seeds
35. Raspberries
36. Red cabbage
37. Red grapes
38. Romaine lettuce
39. Salmon
40. Soybeans
41. Spinach
42. Stabilized rice bran
43. Strawberries
44. Tomatoes
45. Tuna
46. Turkey
47. Walnuts
48. Water
49. Wheat germ
50. Yogurt

Understanding “Good Brain Foods”:

Foods in the complex carbohydrates family are amongst the best type of brain foods. In complex carbohydrates, the molecules are longer. Because the molecular structure is longer, it takes a longer period of time for our intestines to digest and break-down the complex carbohydrates into simple sugars that our body is able to use. Why is a longer digestion or breaking-down process optimal? Because they don’t provide us with a large surge of energy and then die down. They provide our bodies and brain with optimal amounts of balanced energy for our body and brain to access.

What is the glycemic index?

The speed and intensity to which sugars from foods impact our brain cells is measured directly by the “glycemic index” also known as the “G.I.” Foods that are ranked with a high-glycemic index are likely to make our bodies create a lot of insulin. The part of the body that produces insulin to regulate our sugars is known as the pancreas. Diabetics often have a dysfunctional pancreas and need to take insulin because their body cannot naturally cope with the sugar levels.

Eating foods with high glycemic indexes

Eating foods high on the glycemic-index will put lots of stress on the pancreas and will directly affect the body, brain, and our hormone levels. Because the pancreas becomes over-stressed and overworked, the body may feel sluggish and the brain may feel initially energized, but will likely crash within a short period of time. That is why eating foods with a low-glycemic index are recommended.

They don’t put pressure on the pancreas to excrete much insulin and our blood sugar levels remain steady. When our blood sugar levels are steady, our brain is being fed a constant, steady supply of energy to work with; rather than excess energy for 20 minutes followed by a mental burnout for several hours. To figure out which foods are better for your brain and overall brain power, use this glycemic index search form.

Types of brain foods – Glycemic Index examples:

• Cereals: Oatmeal and bran cereals are the healthiest. Corn flakes have a higher glycemic-index ranking.

• Dairy: Milk has a relatively low glycemic index: higher than legumes, but lower than fruits.

• Fruits: Apples, blueberries, cherries, and grapes are examples of fruits that have a lower glycemic index rating. Whole fruits rank lower than juices due to the amount of fiber in fruit which slows the production of simple sugars.

• Grains: Spaghetti and rice have a low glycemic index ranking. White bread is less healthy and is higher on the glycemic index.

• Vegetables: Legumes, kidney-beans, soybeans, lentils, and chick peas are all examples of great brain foods. They have the single lowest glycemic-index of any food group. Carrots and potatoes have significantly higher glycemic indexes.

Preparation of your food

The way in which you eat and prepare your food definitely can affect the ways in which the body and brain uses it. For example: eating a cupcake after a meal of vegetables may actually slow the absorption of sugars. You may not get nearly as much of a “sugar high” or crash-and-burn affect. Eating most fats can also slow the absorption of sugars inside your body. Over-cooking certain types of starches can be much like pre-digesting them. This causes them to unload their sugars into the blood at a much quicker rate than usual, which isn’t good.

Amino acids and neurotransmitters

Certain types of proteins also affect your brain’s overall ability to perform at a peak level of functioning. Proteins provide our brains with amino acids, from which neurotransmitters are created. Neurotransmitters carry signals between neurons (brain cells) and allow parts of the brain to effectively communicate with one-another. When you feed the neurotransmitters with quality food, they deliver messages to other neurons more quickly, more effectively, and more powerfully.

When you eat foods that aren’t brain boosters, the neurotransmitters have a much tougher time carrying messages from neuron to neuron – their strength is much weaker. Neurotransmitters are created via substances tyrosine and tryptophan. Tyrosine is not an essential amino acid because the body can make it without any help from food. Tryptophan, on the other hand, is an essential amino acid that can only be obtained via your diet.

Low carbohydrates vs. high carbohydrates and low protein vs. high protein

Several low carbohydrate foods with high amounts of protein and tyrosine include: soy, eggs, dairy products, and seafood. These are all foods that are likely to increase activity in the brain quickly and speed things up. On the other end of the spectrum, we have foods that are likely to calm down the brain. They are low in protein, but high in carbohydrate and tryptophan. Foods that will calm the brain include: almonds, sesame seeds, chocolate, sunflower seeds, legumes, and pastries.

Optimal proportions of proteins to carbohydrates depend on the individual. Everyone is different and certain people have slight sensitivities or abnormal reactions to various foods. It really all depends on the individual, therefore, experimenting is a must. You need to do it yourself to figure out what type of diet feels optimal for your body and brain. Use some common sense in addition to the list of “50 Good Brain Foods” above and you should be off to a great start.

Consider taking multivitamin supplements

You can also consider taking multivitamin supplements. Taking vitamins are healthy, though it can cost you a little bit of money. I take one multivitamin on a daily basis and am satisfied with it. Though I don’t fully know the degree to which it is helping, I have a good feeling that it does make a difference. I don’t always eat a perfectly balanced diet – and I don’t think that most people are able to eat a consistent balanced diet. Here is where vitamins come in to play: they pick up your slack. Any vital vitamins that you may have missed in your diet during the day are usually covered by taking vitamins for memory loss. If you think that you could benefit from taking multivitamins, it sure wouldn’t hurt to give them a try.

For more in-depth information on brain foods, see the article: 5 Supercharged Brain Foods.

17 Comments »

I’ve recently been doing an experiment with brainwave entrainment. I started the experiment several days ago and am entraining the left hemisphere of my brain with an 18 Hz beta brainwave frequency. Thus far, my progress has been great and I’m definitely noticing changes. In this article I will discuss the specifications regarding my current brainwave entrainment / life experiment. To create my 18 Hz frequency I used the program Neuro Programmer 2 Professional, which is featured in my recommended products section.

What side-effects are commonly associated with entraining the 18 Hz beta brainwave frequency?

• Outward awareness and sensory processing – The focus of my awareness is supposed to shift from focus on more internal matters to more external matters. For example – my focus may have been more on my emotions and internal feelings rather than on someone else’s. Another example: my focus could’ve been locked on what was going on inside my body rather than the people around me.

• Throws brain’s sodium / potassium levels out of balance - The 18 Hz beta brainwave frequency has been associated with throwing the brain’s sodium and potassium levels out of balance. I don’t exactly know to what degree, but I know that after awhile, it cannot be too healthy. I am also only stimulating my left-hemisphere which may lessen the degree of a sodium / potassium imbalance.

• Mental fatigue - Staying in the 18 Hz beta brainwave frequency for too long can obviously cause mental fatigue. Basically, you end up thinking too much and actually ‘overworking’ your brain. Think of it as you running a mile: sprinting the first 2 laps around the track will probably leave you dead tired for the final 2 laps. Your brain is the same way… Think of 18 Hz as a pretty fast jog for your brain (a speed to fast to run the entire mile at). If you stay in this state too long, you can actually become mentally fatigued. I have yet to experience any yet, but I have only begun the entrainment process.

• Relaxed body / focused mind state of awareness - For certain individuals, the 18 Hz brainwave frequency can allow them to retain a relaxed body + concentration-type state at the exact same time. This is a cool state of consciousness to achieve because the body feels good and the brain is still able to perform all the demanding functions within the beta brainwave state.

• Fully awake / some stress / anxiety - 18 Hz beta brainwaves are associated with being fully awake, fully conscious thinking. Think of it as the exact opposite of brain fog: crystal clear concentration. With that said, this crystal clear thinking and focus can cause stress and anxiety after awhile. Sometimes, when individuals are in this 18 Hz state for too long, they can experience stress or anxiety. As a matter of fact, some people who have anxiety disorders and stress problems are often in too high of beta brainwave states like 18 Hz and would be recommended to entrain the alpha brainwave.

• Memory improvements - It is not a surprise that memory improvements are associated with the 18 Hz beta brainwave because conscious thinking is associated with the recollection of past memories. The beta brainwave state is great for recalling old memories and improving your overall cognition. Your brainwaves are cycling quicker and bring your consciousness more information (from more thoughts) than slower brainwave states.

• Reading speed, speaking, and spelling improvements - Beta brainwaves are associated with the left-hemisphere of the brain (that is where they are largely produced). Because the left hemisphere is associated with thinking, memory, speaking, and spelling, it is no wonder that 18 Hz will do the trick to improve your overall critical thinking and working skills.

• Math improvements / less hypearactivity - Math is another subject that is associated with the left, logical side of the brain. Math improvements are very common when someone is stimulated with the beta brainwave. In fact, 18 Hz has been specifically linked to improvements in mathematics. Also, less overall hyperactivity (in most cases) will be experienced. 18 Hz has been long associated with quieting and / or eliminating the symptoms experienced by most individuals with ADD / ADHD.

What I am hoping to get out of this experiment:

Increases in overall energy levels

I am hoping that the 18 Hz frequency will give me an energy boost (especially in the mornings). I usually feel sluggish in the mornings and don’t want to get up. I remember when I used to be in a high-beta brainwave state I could just jump out of bed and feel excited and ready for the day. I want to experience a little boost in the mornings without drinking coffee or other caffeinated beverages. The beta brainwave range should to a great job getting me up and keeping me up in the morning without forcing me to ingest any (potentially harmful) substances.

Improvements in concentration + focus

Though I think that I could concentrate fine before I began the experiment, I have noticed improvements. All I would like is to improve my concentration and focus levels. Improving my concentration allows me to blog more efficiently and stay focused on certain activities. I am able to exercise more efficiently and get tasks done quicker in a smaller period of time; a natural productivity booster.

Increased overall excitement and motivation

If there is one thing that you’ll really feel from beta brainwave entrainment it’s excitement. Every time I get into the mid to high beta brainwave range, I feel excited. Not about anything in particular, just life, the day, or events coming up. Sometimes the excitement is accompanied by anxiety or stress, but it feels really good. It’s similar to the jolt of energy you get when you feel nervous about something (i.e. before skydiving, bungee jumping, a roller coaster, etc.) – except it feels good. This increase in excitement is associated with a more positive mood, and feeling more motivated.

Less negative emotions and negative thinking

Since beta brainwaves are largely associated with the left-hemisphere of the brain, they tend to make an individual less ‘emotional,’ more rational, and more likely to think-before-doing. Usually people in these states are energetic, thoughtful, respectful, and quick-witted. However, on the opposite end of the spectrum, we have the ADD / ADHD individuals and people struggling with depression.

These people are usually very emotional and are usually in a theta brainwave state of consciousness. The remedy for lessening the havoc that can be caused by too many theta brainwaves is to stimulate the brain with beta brainwaves. Beta brainwave entrainment will naturally lessen the overall amount of theta brainwaves and make you feel less impulsive, more in-control, and more conscious. You will also probably think more positively. Think of them as natural anti-depressants.

Increased logical thinking

If you currently struggle with illogical thinking or random thoughts that don’t make much sense, beta brainwaves may be in order. They are derived and primarily produced by the left-hemisphere of the brain. The left-hemisphere regulates logical thinking, whereas the right-hemisphere is associated with intuition, emotions, and less logical thoughts. Slower brainwaves are produced by the right-hemisphere. If you’d like to experience logical thinking or feel that you do not think in a logical enough thought-pattern, try some beta brainwave entrainment.

How am I stimulating the left-hemisphere only?

I can stimulate the left-hemisphere of my brain at an 18 Hz brainwave frequency by using an isochronic tone. I first create a customized 18 Hz brainwave entrainment session in my program Neuro-Programmer 2 Professional. Next, I usually upload the session to my iPod and play it with “earbud”-type headphones. Next, I remove the “left earbud” and keep the right earbud in my right ear. I then only hear the isochronic tone at 18 Hz through my right ear.

The right ear is associated with stimulating the left-hemisphere of the brain and vice-versa (left-hemisphere stimulation = increased right hemisphere activity). I typically have my eyes open throughout the entire 18 Hz beta brainwave session. Closing my eyes would likely reduce the effectiveness of this session due to the fact that closed-eyes are associated with producing slower alpha and theta rhythms. Slower rhythms would interfere (at least slightly) with the beta brainwave entrainment.

Why did I choose to entrain only the left-hemisphere of the brain?

I currently don’t want to have a synchronized brainwave state. I want to experiment and see how I feel with a very active left-hemisphere. I also think that synchronized brainwaves can lead to problems or even change the desired result. For example, in certain cases, when high-beta brainwaves become synchronized, they actually boost theta / alpha brainwaves later (after the entrainment process).

So the desired result of more beta actually brings forth a production of extra theta brainwaves. I don’t want to run the risk of something going wrong so I used some logic. Since beta-brainwaves are associated with the left-hemisphere and logical thinking it couldn’t hurt to only stimulate the left-hemisphere. Sure my left-hemisphere will become more active, more powerful, and the frequency of the brainwaves will gradually shift towards an 18 Hz pattern, but that doesn’t mean my right hemisphere will become underactive either; it will still be doing it’s job.

How has it been so far? What changes have I noticed?

So far, my experience with entraining 18 Hz in my left-hemisphere has been great. I started 3 days ago and entrain for around 25 minutes each ‘session.’ I have been noticing gradual changes in my state of consciousness (i.e. my desires, music taste (fast tempo vs. slow), desires, appealing activities, etc. I have definitely been noticing changes in my personality and I feel like brainwave entrainment gives me control to manipulate reality and experiment with different states of consciousness in order to “do whatever I desire” in my lifetime.

The changes that I’ve noticed thus far:

Increased focus level

I have already noticed that I am more focused in both conversation and while working than I was before starting the experiment. It hasn’t been a huge shift in concentration, because I could focus fine before. It’s just that my focus has increased since beginning the experiment. It makes perfect sense that it would too. Beta brainwaves are associated with some of the most focused states of consciousness.

Increased energy levels

I have noticed increased energy in the morning and throughout the mid-afternoon than previously. I feel like my brain is literally creating more energy for me to work with. I am not amped up like I drank a red-bull, but feel like I can stay awake easily throughout the entire day until I fall asleep at night.

Slight anxiety + nervous

Though I haven’t noticed a lot of anxiety, I have noticed some. Since I have dealt with it in the past, the anxiety is not crippling nor preventing me from doing any activity that I’d normally do. If I feel nervous, I understand that it’s from the 18 Hz frequency entrainment and actually feel great about it. I know that I am just experimenting with my brainwaves and learning what the various brainwave states feel like. I also understand that I can always fall back on a lower frequency and I’ll calm down quickly.

More overall thinking + more aware

I have also noticed that I am thinking more than before. I consciously notice myself thinking at a much faster rate than before. I also noticed that I am more aware of everything going on in my environment. Things that I may have previously never thought about I now think about. I know that beta brainwaves can cause an individual to think deeply about very little, which isn’t always good.

12 Comments »

1. To experience deep inner peace.

2. To experience a greater sense of wellbeing.

3. To increase the amount of grey-matter in your brain.

4. To increase the amount of activity in your brain.

5. To take control of your thoughts.

6. To take control of your life.

7. For spiritual purposes.

8. To develop greater compassion for others.

9. To create a more positive outlook on life.

10. To develop greater emotional understanding.

11. To shift your perception.

12. To raise your current level of conscious awareness.

13. To deeply relax your mind and body.

14. To consciously control your brainwave patterns.

15. To increase your I.Q. score and level of intelligence.

16. To increase your overall energy levels.

17. To increase your levels of concentration.

18. To increase your levels of inner motivation.

19. To help build up a stronger immune system.

20. To make your life easier.

21. To learn more about yourself.

22. For self-mastery purposes.

23. To consciously control unconscious body functions.

24. To enhance your religious practices.

25. To “awaken” your mind.

26. To consciously control your reality.

27. To lower levels of destructive stress hormones.

28. To improve the condition of a mood disorder.

29. To “bliss out” and experience inner euphoria.

30. To make you happier than you already are.

31. To quiet your mind.

32. To strengthen your heart.

33. To improve blood flow to the brain.

34. To build new neural connections in the brain.

35. To increase your overall vitality.

36. To help manifest your desires.

37. To decrease chronic pain.

38. To try something new.

39. Because your friends meditate.

40. Because it sounds like an interesting practice.

41. To give the brain a quick “refresh.”

42. To use as an alternative to taking a nap.

43. Because there are so many different types of meditation.

44. To transcend space and time.

45. As an escape from the physical world.

46. Because it feels soothing [to your body and brain].

47. To use as a healthy alternative to watching T.V.

48. For healing past traumas.

49. To improve your memory.

50. To connect with the universe.

51. To enhance your ability to visualize.

52. To develop greater empathy.

53. To connect with God or the Source.

54. To learn about and guide your ego.

55. To untap the full potential of your soul.

56. To develop a more creative mind.

57. For personal growth or personal development purposes.

58. Because successful people meditate.

59. To get a “natural high” off of your own brain chemistry.

60. Because you want to change.

61. To help create peace on Earth.

62. To develop high-levels of brainwave coherence.

63. To develop high-levels of heart wave coherence.

64. To spend time with just yourself.

65. To improve your negative behavior patterns.

66. To improve your quality of thinking and clarity.

67. To help develop a warmer, more positive personality.

68. To improve relationships and your social life.

69. To feel relaxed in any environment.

70. It is the single most effective relaxation technique.

71. To reduce or overcome insomnia.

72. To help you kick a drug habit.

73. To help you kick an alcohol habit.

74. To help you boost your brain power.

75. To help you ditch an addicting habit.

76. To experience enlightenment.

77. To reach a state of nirvana.

78. To improve your sex-life and libido.

79. To lower your blood-pressure.

80. To help prevent devastating diseases.

81. To help prevent brain-aging.

82. To help you discover your purpose.

83. To replace suffering with understanding.

84. To develop a state of detachment.

85. To aid in the production of vital neurotransmitters like “serotonin.”

86. To increase the production of healthy hormones.

87. To slow physical deterioration and the process of aging.

88. To overcome limiting beliefs.

89. To increase work-productivity.

90. To develop a more open mind.

91. To set a healthy example for others to follow.

92. Meditation is an easy practice to learn.

93. Meditation gives you something to do when you are bored.

94. To clear past negative karma and bring forth positivity.

95. To cleanse your energy centers a.k.a. “chakras.”

96. To develop a greater mind-body connection.

97. To help replace aggressiveness with assertiveness.

98. To curb anger (and other negative emotions) and prevent fighting.

99. To help improve any area of your life.

100. Because there are so many positive side-effects associated with with meditation.

Bonus: 101. [Insert your reason(s) here] – Feel free to post your reason in the comments section.

No comments »

A groundbreaking study + video games on the brain + male brains vs. female brains

Allan Reiss and his fellow researchers have a good idea why your male counterpart can’t seem to put down his X-Box 360 controller. In a groundbreaking, imaging study, Stanford University School of Medicine scholars have found that part of the brain that generates rewarding feelings is more active in men than women while playing video games.

The differences between male and female brain-activity while playing video games may help us fully understand why males are actually much more likely to get addicted to Nintendo games than females. Over 100 million video games wer sold in 2005. According to a survey by Harris Interactive in 2007, younger males are at least 2 to 3 times more likely than females to feel addicted to playing video games!

Though video games are very popular, little research has been conducted in the area of neural processing and brain activity while people are actually playing the video games. And, to top things off, absolutely zero research has been conducted on gender-differences in the brain while playing video games. As you may have already eluded: this study is monumental.

This study was lead by Allan Reiss a Howard C. Robbins Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Allan has been interested in studying gender differences throughout his entire career. In 2005, Reiss published a study that was able to show how mens’ and womens’ brains process comedy differently. He then directed his research towards exploring territoriality. His team thought that the best way to study territoriality would be by using a simple computer game.

How the research worked

Brain researchers devised a game which involved a vertical line, which was referred to as “the wall.” This “wall” was located in the middle of a computer screen. When each game began, 10 balls appeared to the right of the wall and moved left directly towards the wall. Each time a participant clicked on the ball, the ball disappeared from the screen. If the balls were kept a certain distance away from “the wall,” the wall moved further to the right and the player gained extra space (territory) on the screen. If the balls hit the wall before they were clicked by the players, “the wall” moved further to the left and the player lost space (territory) on the screen.

Who were the participants?

While playing the computer game, 11 men and 11 women (a total of 22 young adults) were hooked up to an fMRI machine which allowed researchers to understand what was going on in each of the brains. Each of the participants played several 24-second games while hooked up to the fMRI machine. The fMRI machines were able to produce dynamic images showing activity in specific areas of the brain during the game playing.

How the study worked + the results

While playing the games, participants were told to attempt to click on as many balls as possible. They were not told that they would gain or lose space (territory) on the screen depending on how successful they were with clicking. All participants learned quickly how to play the game and the purpose of it. All of the male and female participants wound up clicking on roughly the same number of balls. Though they were relatively even in ball clicks, the male participants gained a greater amount of territory than the women. This was due to the fact that men identified which balls – [the balls closest to the wall] – would help them acquire the most territory when clicked.

The females fully understood the concept of the game and they moved the wall in the right direction. The difference between the male and female territory at the end of the game was summed up by study leader Allan Reiss: “They (the females) appeared motivated to succeed at the game. The males were just a lot more motivated to succeed.”

After thoroughly analyzing the MRI imagery and data of the entire group of players (11 men and 11 women), the researchers learned that the participants’ brains showed activation in the mesocorticolimbic center – a region commonly associated with addiction and reward. The difference between the male and female brains was in the amount of activation in the mesocorticolimbic center. The brains of the 11 male young adults showed much greater activity. And, to top things off, researchers discovered that the amount of activity closely correlated with how much space (territory) they gained during the game. (This correlation didn’t happen to occur in the women participants). Three more key brain structures involved in our reward circuitry: the amygdala, the orbitofrontal cortex, and the nucleus accumbens – were also shown to influence each other in men much more than women. The better connected this circuitry, the better the males performed at the computer game!

What these results suggest

The results of this study indicate that “acquiring territory” in a computer game is more rewarding for men than women. And researchers, especially lead researcher Allan Reiss, is of the least bit surprised. Reiss was quoted saying, “I think it’s fair to say that males tend to be more intrinsically territorial.” He later added the fact that, “It doesn’t take a genius to figure out who historically are the conquerors and tyrants of our species; they’re the males.”

Allan also thinks that this study suggests that men have neural circuitry in their brains that make them more liable than women to feel rewarded by playing computer or video games – especially those with territorial objectives. Reiss made the statement, “Based on this, it makes sense that males are more prone to getting hooked on video games than females.” Later, he added the fact that: “Most of the computer games that are really popular with males are territory and aggression-type games.” Researchers believe that the findings in this study may even apply to other types of video games. Though there are some questions that remain unanswered after this study, Reiss and his team are already working on further research in the area of the effects of video games on the brain niche; particularly in younger populations like children.

For more information note:
A report of this unique study has recently been published the Journal of Psychiatric Research online. http://med-www.stanford.edu

1 Comment »

Gay brains similar to straight brains of the opposite sex

Recently, brain scans have provided scientists with some of the best evidence that ‘being gay’ or ‘being straight’ is part of a biologically-fixed genetic trait. The brain scans revealed – that in homosexuals – key brain structures responsible for anxiety, mood, emotion, and aggressiveness are extremely similar to those in straight people of the opposite sex.

To put the findings in simpler terms:

• homosexual (gay) male brains = heterosexual (straight) female brains

• homosexual (gay) female brains = heterosexual (straight) male brains

Ivanka Savic, the leader of the study, said that, “Scientists figure that the differences between straight and gay brains of the same sex are likely already set early in the womb or during early infancy.” Ivanka held and carried out this groundbreaking study at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. Ivanka continues by stating, “This is the most robust measure so far of cerebral differences between homosexual and heterosexual subjects.”

Most previous studies have also discovered differences in brain structure and activity between gay and straight individuals. However, most of these studies relied on individuals’ responses to sexuality driven cues that may have been learned (i.e. rating the attractiveness of male / female faces).

How the study worked

To avoid relying on individuals’ responses to sexuality driven cues, researchers chose to measure brain parameters that were most likely ‘fixed’ at birth. Savic said that the whole point of this study was to show brain parameters that differ; parameters that couldn’t be changed via cognitive processes or learning.

First, the researchers utilized fMRI brain scans to determine the shape / structure of the brains and their overall volume. A group of 90 volunteers that consisted of 25 straight (heterosexual) individuals [of each gender] and 20 gay (homosexual) individuals [of each gender] were scanned.

The results of the “gay brain” study

The results of this “gay brain” vs. “straight brain” study show that straight men tended to have more asymmetric brains, with the right-hemisphere slightly larger than the left. On the other hand, gay men had symmetrical brains just like the brains of straight women.

The research team then used PET scans to determine and measure the amount of blood flow to the amygdala – a part of the brain that regulates aggression and fear. The PET scan images showed how the amygdala – which is connected to other parts of the brain – gave clues as to how it might influence behavior. Researchers learned that patterns of connectivity in the brains of gay men matched those of straight women. In straight women, the connections were mainly into regions of the brain that manifest the emotion “fear” as “intense anxiety.”

The brain connection to mood disorders

Savic, leader of this study added, “The regions involved in phobia, anxiety and depression overlap with the pattern we see from the amygdala.” This is very significant because it correlates with data showing that women are at least 3 times more likely than men to suffer from mood disorders and depression. Gay men tend to have much higher rates of depression too. It’s difficult to know whether the link to mood disorders is due to homophobia, biological traits, or a result of the stigma associated with being gay.

In lesbians and straight men, the amygdala feeds its signals mainly into the straitum and the sensorimotor cortex – 2 regions of the brain associated with generating a “flight or fight” response. Researchers say that it’s more of an “action-determined” response than it is in women.

What the experts had to say

One of the leading researchers in the field of “sexual orientation” at Queen Mary College, London, UK – Qazi Rahman – said, “This study demonstrates that homosexuals of both sexes show strong cross-sex shifts in brain symmetry.” Qazi later added, “The connectivity differences reported in the amygdala are striking.”

Simon LeVay, a prominent United States author who reported in 1991 about finding differences in the hypothalamus (part of the brain) between gay and straight men. After viewing this study, Simon said, “Paradoxically, it’s more informative to look at things that have no direct connection with sexual orientation, and that’s where this study scores.”

Ivanka Savic, the study leader, understands the fact that her study cannot determine whether the homosexual brain differences are inherited or a result from overexposure to certain sex-hormones in the womb (i.e. estrogen and testosterone).

Journal reference: The National Academy of Sciences Proceedings

1 Comment »

New synaptic molecular evolution theory

Human intelligence has little or nothing to do with brain size – scientists have known this for awhile. Having a bigger brain will not necessarily make you more intelligent than another person. A relatively recent report by the Daily Mail Newspaper discussed a study that compared human brains to the brains of other species. The research and its findings were very interesting.

Researchers found that mammals have a higher percentage of proteins in the synapses – brain regions of interconnected nerves. They also discovered that of the 600 proteins found within the synapses of mammalian brains, about half of those synapses are found in invertebrates. Only one-quarter were found in single-celled organisms – which are a species without nerves.

The Daily Mail Newspaper quoted one lead researcher who stated, “This work leads to a new and simple model for understanding the origins and diversity of brains and behavior in all species. We are one step closer to understanding the logic behind the complexity of human brains.”

This highly-complex brain study contributes knowledge about the differences in a highly-important group of brain proteins between species. This study did not produce a comparison between the relative contributions of differences in these proteins. Nor did the study fully determine the relation of brain size to intelligence in humans or any other species. Because of the inconclusiveness, it is virtually impossible to draw any conclusions about their importance. Our brains are highly-complex organs and many external and internal factors determine differences in behavior and learning in all types of species.

What were the results of this study?

Researchers discovered genes which encoded proteins similar to the mouse postsynaptic proteins in all of the species – even yeast! There were obvious differences in the numbers of types of the proteins between the yeast, vertebrates and invertebrates. Basically, as organisms became more complex, they were found to contain a wider variety of postsynaptic proteins. In yeast, a species without nerves, these proteins were utilized in a wide-variety of jobs including: decision making, breaking down proteins, moving substances around the cell, and responding to the environment.

When comparing the mice proteins with the fruit fly proteins, the mice showed a much more complex range of postsynaptic proteins. Also, different regions of the mice’s brain displayed different combinations and levels of proteins. This eludes to the fact that they may actually be responsible for some of the different functions in these areas of the brain… Pretty confusing stuff, but it makes sense.

What were researchers able to learn from these results?

Researchers in this study believe that basic proteins that make up synapses have evolved over time to become more complex. This evolution of proteins has created differences in cognitive abilities between different species and to the adaptation of different regions of the brain for different functions.

Basically, this study has contributed to knowledge about the differences in certain groups of brain-proteins between different groups of species. The brain is an extremely complex organ and there are many differences between different species which create differences in cognitive abilities and behavior. Humans have a significantly more complex set of synapse proteins than other species. This allows us to have cognitive differences in behavior, thinking, memory, etc.

Why was this study done?

They hoped to determine how the synapses have evolved and why different types of species behave in more complex ways. Researchers also make it a point to note that all existing discussions of how the brain and behavior evolved failed to take into account the possibility of “synaptic molecular evolution.” Researchers worked by looking at differences between synapses in different species. Species ranged from: single-celled species to humans.

To take into account “synaptic molecular evolution,” scientists looked at proteins that were located in a certain part of the synapse – called the postsynaptic region. For starters, scientists took sequences of certain genes which contained the blueprints for 651 proteins found in the postsynaptic regions of mice. They then used computers to match similar sequences in the genetic coding of 19 different species.

The species included: simple species that did not have nervous systems like yeast (a single-celled organism), and a range of organisms with nervous systems such as: invertebrates (i.e. insects or worms), non-mammalian vertebrates (i.e. fish), and mammalian vertebrates (rats, chimpanzees, and human beings).

The researchers looked into the function of these proteins in yeast. Next, they determined which proteins were found in the postsynaptic regions of fruit flies. They then compared the fruit flies postsynaptic regions with that of mice. Eventually, they were able to look into mice’s brains and discover where these different proteins were found.

In my opinion, this study can get a little bit confusing. There is still a lot of material that was left unexplained that is still being researched. Based on this study, scientists will have a solid foundation developed for researching new molecular evolution theories. This is one of the latest “evolution of brain power” theories that has surfaced, so I figured that I’d share it with the blog. I will keep you all updated if I discover a new one!

Where did the story come from?

Dr. Richard Emes and colleagues from Keele University, Edinburgh University, the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, and the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology did the research. Their research study was funded by Wellcome Trust, the Medical Research Council, Edinburgh University, GlaxoSmithKline, the e-Science Institute, and the European Molecular Biology Organisation. The study was published in the Nature Neuroscience medical journal.

1 Comment »

Skipping sleep can shut down the brain

Being sleep-deprived for just one night will make your brain unstable and more prone to sudden “shutdowns.” These shutdowns are like lapses that don’t allow you to utilize the full power of your brain. The natural function of the brain is weaker and you may experience shifts between sleep and wakefulness throughout the day state researchers.

“It’s as though it is both asleep and awake and they are switching between each other very rapidly,” says David Dinges from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. His “sleepy brains” study appears in the Journal of Neuroscience and has gained mainstream attention.

David Dinges, a lead researcher was quoted saying, “Imagine you are sitting in a room watching a movie with the lights on. In a stable brain, the lights stay on all the time. In a sleepy brain, the lights suddenly go off.” This quote explains the findings of his research in a nutshell. When you provide your brain with adequate sleep, your brain is fully operating. When you deprive your brain of sleep, your brain can shift between functioning and shutting down (malfunctioning). We already know that depriving yourself of sleep is one of the things that kill brain cells.

What the findings of this study suggest?

The findings of this study suggests that individuals who are sleep-deprived will shift between stages of near-normal brain functioning and significant lapses in cognition throughout the day. Two key areas that sleep-deprived brains are usually not able to perform well in are: visual processing and attention skills.

David Dinges and other researchers conducted brain imaging studies on 24 adults who performed simple tasks which involved visual attention when they were well rested and compared the results to those of when they had missed 1 night’s sleep. Researchers used fMRI imaging to analyze the results, allowing them to measure and observe the amount of blood flow in the brain.

The key findings: the sleep deprived vs. the well rested

• Sleep Deprived: The fMRI imaging showed that when individuals were sleep-deprived, there were significant lapses in key areas of the brain.

• Well Rested: When the individuals were well rested, fMRI imaging showed no lapses in functioning in the areas that faltered in the sleep-deprived brain. The brain power of well-rested individuals remained strong and healthy.

The lead researcher also stated, “These people are not lying in bed. They are sitting up doing a task they learned and they are working very hard at doing their best.” Lapses seemed to suggest that lack of sleep impairs the brain of fully warding off the involuntary drive to sleep. Dinges also says that this study makes it clear how dangerous sleep-deprivation can be while driving on the highway – when even a split second lapse could potentially get you into a major accident!

The obvious conclusion

I think it is obvious to say that we need a goodnight’s sleep for optimal brain functioning! So do yourself a favor and get to bed at a decent time. Too much lack of caring for yourself and your sleeping patterns can cause health problems, cognitive impairments, and is unhealthy. For optimal brain power, you already know that it is good to take a nap if necessary – or set aside some time to sleep in. Get to bed earlier, do whatever you need to to fulfill your necessary sleeping requirements. Sleeping replenishes the body and revitalizes the brain. Cutting it from your routine or trying to avoid it for productivity reasons will only impair your brain functioning. So do yourself a favor… get a good-night’s sleep!

No comments »

Is it possible that only waking up and smelling coffee gives your brain a jolt of energy (more beta brainwaves) without even taking a drink? Many people drink coffee in the morning for some caffeine-energy. However, a new study shows that just smelling coffee may have some of the same benefits. The research in the area of coffee is discovering how drinking and smelling coffee affects the gene expression and proteins in your brain.

The new “coffee bean study”

The author of this new “coffee study” was Han-Seouk Seo of Seoul National University. He wrote about how this is one of the first bits of research to look at how the smell of coffee affects our brain activity and behavior. This new study dealt with lab rats, most of which hadn’t gotten adequate sleep. Han-Seouk Seo wrote: “There are few studies that deal with the beneficial effects of coffee aroma.” Apparently, this study is the first ever with a primary focus on the effects of “coffee bean aroma” on sleep-deprived rats’ brains.

For this study, lab rats were used in combination with “Colombian coffee beans.” Researchers tested how the smell of coffee affected the brains of: adult male rats who were “stressed” and sleep deprived, and a group of unstressed adult male rats. They were compared with 2 more groups of rats: stressed and unstressed rats not exposed to the aroma of Colombian coffee beans.

The results of the study

The group of researchers then observed the rats’ brains to attempt to discover the molecular effects of the coffee bean scent. Below is what they discovered:

• The sleep-deprived “stressed” rats showed displayed different levels of activity in 17 genes in the brain. Whether they were better or worse, the study did not say… It just said the levels of activity were different than normal.

• This isn’t to suggest that sleep-deprived or “stressed” people are the exact same as sleep-deprived lab rats. Some study authors believe that since drinking caffeine can cause the same “stress” associated with sleep-deprivation, it may be better for people to sniff coffee.

Should I start sniffing Colombian coffee beans?

Does this mean that you could carry around some Colombian coffee beans to help keep your beta brainwaves roaring? Could you beat the sleep by taking a sniff of some coffee beans? The question remains to be answered! This study found that the scent of coffee affects our brain activity levels and proteins in 17 genes…

They did not find any conclusive evidence supporting the scent of coffee’s effects on the brain. I personally think that sniffing coffee beans would have some effect on us and our brainwaves. Many aromas can change our brainwaves. Taking a whiff of peppermint or chewing peppermint gum can give our beta brainwaves a boost! More coffee-brain-interaction research is in the works and is interesting to follow. Stay tuned for more, I’ll keep you updated!

1 Comment »