Brain Drain Games

Avidly I have been reading, whenever a moment arises and allows, Norman Doidge's The Brain That Changes Itself...fascinating stuff in down-to-earth language. Defying scientists' previous beliefs that the brain could in no way be plastic (a word so taboo that some research papers weren't originally published due to its use) in its ability to change and grow as the body ages, Doidge shares post-stroke victims' tales of mental and physical recovery; the existence of pain as emulating from the brain rather than the injured body part; a young woman born with an empty cavity where her left hemisphere should have been and her successful experience with "re-wiring"...

We learn that walking barefoot encourages stability, learning new languages and taking dance lessons ward off cognitive decline, and that, yes, high vegetable and fish intake, along with exercise and brain games, encourage neurological growth and mitigate the onset of Alzheimer's. Studies on people who actually physically exercised, as opposed to those who merely spent equivalent time merely visualizing the very same activity, demonstrated that the 'doers' muscle mass and strength improved by 30%whereas the 'thinker' muscle mass and strength improved by 22%. Wow. The power of our minds!

"We must be learning if we are to feel fully alive" (p.116).

Honestly it scares the pants off of me in terms of raising children: are we stimulating them enough? The first six years are so critical...as well as the fact that the more education and experience one has the better chance of living life without dementia (as well as the fact that if a brain injury does occur, positive results are much higher/better when higher education is involved). Are we filling those little brains as best as we can?

Tonight I completed Day 2 of Luminosity's 40 Day Brain Training. FREE! Luminosity.com (Check it out!) Having jumped on to my lap to observe, Gavin asked about playing. His first desire was a game that involved making as many words as possible with the first three letters (e.g. "som" and "ele" were two of today's) and though he tried it was obviously beyond his developmental level. However, "monster garden", revealed a savvy little memory. A 5x5 grid displays 3 monsters before hiding them, then shows a farmer who must reach a specific flower without treading on a monster. After completion of the 'path creation' bonus points are awarded for clicking on the squares where the monsters hid. He was amazing!

Luminosity.com, as well as an orchestrated effort at mental exercise and reading more challenging material, is my current attempt at a solution to temporary memory loss and neurological shutdowns! ("Baby brain", or "Placental Drain" as my friend Laurie calls it, eventually ends does it not? Our daughter is almost 3! Where is my brain? Who has taken it hostage? When shall it return?) And today's morning at the beach followed by a trip to Bruce County Museum's "Sea Monster" exhibit is my attempt at filling up those kidlet cranial cavities. http://www.brucemuseum.ca/calendar/sea-monsters-predators-of-the-ancient-seas/