24 Dec 2021
As winter hits its coldest point, we are forced to stay indoors. What a walk in the park or a sunny day does to your mood is no longer met. Especially for the elderly and seniors living with you, this mood can slip further down, unobserved.
Thankfully there are ways you can bring cheer to your winter blues even if you are cloistered at home. Puzzles and games that stimulate the brain have very powerful effects on not just improving mood but also to delay dementia, and the risk of Alzheimer’s, in adults.
This is based on evidence gleaned from several studies with people observed over a period of time. How exactly it works, who benefits the most and how often you need to work your brain out, for it to be effective is still a bit fuzzy.
For instance, it was found that if you did the same activity over and over again, your brain became less stimulated by it. However, when you mix up different cognitive-related activities and bring in challenging situations, your brain remains stimulated.
Today, brain training is a huge multi-billion dollar industry, with online apps and games being developed for tablets and phones. Not all may work; while some may be more effective than others.
So how do you know which brain programs are most effective. Here are some factors to consider before choosing your brain workout.
1. Repetition helps, but something more is needed
When we retrieve something from memory and use repeatedly over time, we are likely to remember them. However, there is a physical process that needs to be completed to form a memory, say neuroscientists. Re-learn the information on different days, in multiple, different settings.
2. Tests are useful, but its not just to know your level
People often think testing is useful because it tells you what you know and what you don’t. When you retrieve what you have learnt from your memory, you are establishing a connection in the brain. Students who were given tests immediately after learning something new, were able to recall better than the ones who didn’t have to do any tests.
3. The power of visualizing
More powerful than simply repeating or roting, is when you associate it with a familiar place or thing. Want to remember a word in a foreign language? Try imagining a person you know or a familiar food to associate with that word. This is why mnemonics are much better when you want to memorize long or complex sequences. Be it the names of planets or, legends in history.
4. Frequency is critical for lasting benefits
Those who worked out their brains multiple times a week had better neuroplasticity and were more agile – similar to the benefits of regular physical work outs. Frequent practice improved short term memory, helping them understand concepts and languages faster.
5. Mixing up your activity
While you choose a puzzle or a brain teaser, remember to mix it up with other cognitive-related activities. Because, if you end up doing the same activity over and over again, your brain doesn’t find it stimulating anymore. So pick and choose a program that is not only effective, but entertaining and intense enough.
Check out how infyni’s Brain Workout is different from others. Stay tuned for our new launches in the coming weeks.
- Anjana Das
