The Consequences of Thinking Too Much

Although research shows that thinking stimulates certain areas of the brain, it also points to the dangers of "thinking too much".

One study found that people who have to make difficult decisions and were sure about their answers had more brain cells in their frontal lobe, in an area called the anterior prefrontal cortex. The frontal lobe (located as its name suggests at the front of your brain) plays a key role in higher mental functions such as motivation, planning, social behaviour, and speech production. The part of the frontal lobe, called the anterior prefrontal cortex, has been linked to integrating the outcomes of two or more separate cognitive operations in the pursuit of a higher behavioural goal.

Research also warns that worrying and brooding about a decision can have a negative impact on working memory, the kind of memory used to remember recent events and to use this information for something, such as remembering where you parked your car. The results of the study suggested that thinking too much about decisions can lead to difficulties with memory and depression.

To read more, you can find a link to the article here:

It's good to think, but not too much

Brain Training Goes Online

On June 11-12, as representatives from IBREA, my colleague and I attended the 5th Annual Games for Health conference in Boston. This conference explores how game technologies and talent can contribute to breakthroughs in health & healthcare.

Game-based solutions are already providing compelling means to increase physical activity, advance personal health, improve hospital operations, train healthcare providers, and advocate important healthcare information.

This year, the conference included a Cognitive Health track. Developers, researchers, and retailers of Brain Fitness on-line training programs were on hand to share their experience in this growing field.

Conference participants heard about an innovative partnership between Allstate insurance and PositScience, a cognitive training company, to provide online cognitive training for safer driving; about a new retail store in the Chicago area selling brain products; about online cognitive training options for ADHD, Schizophrenia, and Multiple Sclerosis; and about current and planned research on online brain fitness programs and the effects of these programs in different populations.


This community recognizes the importance of the brain and based on research, sees the possibilities and importance of training the brain in order to improve health and well-being. They also recognize the importance of including on-line and mobile technology platforms as options for accessing information and training about the brain.

Brain Education programs have traditionally been offered in community settings. Now, people who are unable to attend Brain Education training programs because there may not be a physical location in their community or in their country, will be able to access training online.

IBREA will also be adding cognitive, emotional, and physical health brain-related assessments and training and certification courses for Brain Management Consultants on-line. Stay tuned for more soon!

Brain Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education

On May 6th from 6-9 pm, IBREA Foundation presented at the "Brain Education for Enhanced Learning and Living" event held at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The event was held in celebration of a proclamation made by the Mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts in recognition of the contribution Brain Education programs have made to the community.

The mayor, who attended with her granddaughter, quoted from Ilchi Lee's book "Power Brain Kids": "Greatness is not limited to those who perform well on standardized tests or to those who know how to sit still at age eight" and spoke about the importance of educating the whole child and bringing out each child's potential.

Graduate students and community members participated in a Brain Education experiential session led by Regional Brain Education trainer, Erin Carter.

The participants then heard from Dr. Deni Howley, the Deputy Executive Director of the Germaine Lawrence School, a residential school for young women with behavioral and emotional issues in Arlington, Massachusetts about the results of a pilot study on the effects of Brain Education on the students and staff at her school.

This was followed by a presentation by the IBREA Foundation about the Brain Education training system and its applications, research on Brain Education, the scientific background behind Brain Education, and the activities of IBREA Foundation.

To read more about the forum:
http://www.ilchi.com/News_and_Events/View/256/Earth-Citizen-Movement/Brain-Education-for-Enhanced-Learning-at-the-Harvard-Graduate-School-of-Education/

To read more about the impact of Brain Education on the students at the Germaine Lawrence School, see:
http://www.brainwavevibration.com/news/news_view.aspx?idx=67

"Cognitive Reserve": How to Maintain Your Brain

The concept of "cognitive reserve" has been around since 1989 when post-mortem studies showed that some individuals who had full Alzheimer's pathology (tangles and plaques) had been able to live normal lives while others had shown symptoms.

Since then, researchers such as Dr. Yaakov Stern from Columbia University in New York have made discoveries about the factors that help to build cognitive reserve and thus reduce the risk of developing symptoms of Alzheimer's.

In an interview I read recently with Dr. Stern, the interviewer emphasizes three key points that apply to young and old alike:

1. Education, an engaging occupation, and leisure activities reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's.

2. Stimulating activities, ideally combining physical exercise, learning, and social interaction help to build cognitive reserve.

3. It is never too late to start building our cognitive reserve.

To read more about how you can start (or what to continue):

http://http//www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/07/23/build-your-cognitive-reserve-yaakov-stern/

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8292945/

The Effects of Exercise on the Brain

Exercise has been shown to increase neurogenesis--the generation of new nerve cells--in the brain.

Tonight, "The National", Canada's national evening news program featured a story on the effects of exercise on the students in an alternative class in Saskatchewan.

In the story, Dr. John Ratey, author of a book called "Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain" explains how exercise affects the brain, particularly the front parts of the brain that are involved in impulse behaviour.

Exercise, he says, helps preserve nerve cells, makes them stronger, withstand stress, and makes them more pliable. As a result of these changes in the brain, students are able to concentrate and manage their behaviour better.

You can learn more at:

http://www.cbc.ca/national/blog/special_features/brain_gains.html

Ontario Government Invests in Brain Fitness for Aging

Around the world, governments are recognizing the importance of brain fitness and health.

Recently, in my home province of Ontario, the Ontario government provided funding to Baycrest, a research institution focused on aging and brain functioning for the development of Brain Fitness programs for the aging population.

You can read an interview with Baycrest CEO, John Wilkinson, here:

http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2009/02/23/centre-for-brain-fitness-at-baycrest-interview-with-dr-william-reichman/

The Brain That Changes Itself

In his book, The Brain that Changes Itself, Toronto psychiatrist and researcher Dr. Norman Doidge presents the concept of neuroplasticity, or the ability of the brain to change and rewire itself, through research that includes meetings with the top researchers in the field and the people whose personal stories prompted this research.

For example, one woman who herself had learning problems used self-created brain exercises to stimulate the weak areas of her brain and went on to establish a program and school for children and adults with learning diffficulties based on this method. Reading the book gave me hope not only for those with brain damage, but for all of us, as it highlights the brain's ability to adapt and change.

Dr. Norman Doidge was one of the featured speakers at a recent seminar titled "The Role of Brain Education in Global Mental Health" held at the United Nations. The seminar was hosted by Ilchi Lee, the founder of Brain Education, and co-sponsored by the International Brain Education Association (IBREA), Korea of Brain Science (KIBS), the NGO (Non-governmental organization) Committee on Mental Health, and the NGO Section of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), United Nations.

You can watch the CBC documentary, The Brain That Changes Itself, based on Dr. Doidge's best-selling book here on David Suzuki's The Nature of Things:

http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/natureofthings/2008/brainchangesitself/index.html

Maximizing Creativity with Brainwave Training

Today was an exciting day at UBE. Guest lecturer, Dr. John Gruzelier from Goldsmiths, University of London, presented on "Maximizing Creativity with EEG-Neurofeedback (Brain Wave) Training", a presentation he also made a few days earlier at the Global Human Resources Symposium in Seoul.

Neurofeedback is a technique that has been used successfully to treat epilepsy, ADHD, schizophrenia, substance use, and brain injury. While it has several clinical applications, Dr. Gruzelier's current focus is on using Neurofeedback to enhance optimal performance in non-clinical populations.

What Dr. Gruzelier and his colleagues have found is that through Neurofeedback training, or through training people to slow down their brain waves using a neurofeedback system, they can improve their performance, including their creativity. This has shown to be true for both novice and expert artists, including instrumentalists, vocalists, and dancers. Dr. Gruzelier emphasized that anyone can develop their creativity and abilities through this technique and others.

The state induced by slow wave training has been termed hypnogogia and is the state between wake and sleep. This is the state that can be experienced by doing Ji Gam or Energy Meditation, a technique used in Brain Education training. Many scientists, writers, and others have documented the creative insight they have experienced while in this state. Images of the brain show that there is increased connectivity between the left and right sides of the brain.



Earlier in the afternoon, Dr. Gruzelier was also an honoured guest at a ceremony to mark the beginning of construction of a new Brain Education building at UBE. Dr. Gruzelier spoke about the important role that UBE and KIBS play in providing research that supports the benefits of Brain Education so that it can be shared around the world. He commended Ilchi Lee for his work in Brain Science and for his spiritual leadership. Dr. Gruzelier noted that he shared in Ilchi Lee's goal of helping individuals develop the potential of their brains for peace.