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Learning Japanese for fun. Doing the Sunday crossword puzzle for the first time in your life. Taking a ceramics class. Joining a book club. Taking a new route to or from work. Mastering a whole new make-up technique. What do these activities have in common? They all challenge you in new ways – and thus could potentially add years to your brain health.
According to neuroscientists, challenging your brain in novel ways helps with the formation of new neurons. In her book The Atomic Brain, author and researcher Beatriz Larrea argues that challenging the brain promotes neurogenesis, or the formation of new neurons. In fact, studies have found that the more cognitive stimulation you experience over the years, either via education or work, the lower your risk of developing dementia.
Learning and neuroplasticity
“Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to adapt, change and reorganise itself throughout life,” explains Dr Amaya Manrique, of the Beauty Concept in Madrid. “Our neurons can form new connections, strengthen existing ones, or even create alternative pathways.”
Our brains form new connections and pathways when we learn something new. “The more you use a pathway, the stronger and faster it becomes. But stop using a pathway and it can disappear,” she explains. “Starting any activity from scratch, with the curiosity of a child, can help our brains create new pathways.”
The state of flow
Think of all those times you’ve been challenged to wrap your head around and develop a new skill at work. You’re motivated and focused. Nothing can distract you. Time feels like it doesn’t exist. This is called the flow state – and not only does it promote neuroplasticity, it also increases feelings of wellbeing.
“When we find ourselves immersed in an activity that we really like, one that’s challenging enough not to be boring but not so difficult that it’s frustrating, we enter a state of flow,” explains personal development coach Laura G Ortiz de Zárate. “It happens with tasks that make us lose track of time, that produce creative tension, and in which we have a high level of productivity.”
When this happens, stress fades, because the focus required to learn something new generates dopamine, the feel-good hormone related to pleasure, motivation and reward.
A treatment to stimulate brain plasticity
Although good lifestyle habits – sleep, nutrition, stress management – are fundamental to brain health, some modern treatments can also be used to stimulate the brain. One example is Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a non-invasive treatment that “uses magnetic pulses to stimulate the specific areas of the brain that are involved in emotional regulation, cognitive function, and self-control”. Fans include Serena Williams and Gwyneth Paltrow, who have both posted on social media about TMS journeys using an ExoMind machine.
Generally, TMS ExoMind sessions last around 25 minutes and are performed by applying a magnetic pulse-transmitting handpiece to certain points on the head. These pulses activate neurons, encouraging them to communicate better with each other and increasing feelings of relaxation. “This technology helps our brains ‘choose’ pathways that allow us to improve brain function, increase cognitive performance, improve mood, increase energy, alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety, and potentially, to make better life choices,” explains Manrique, who recommends several sessions to achieve the full effect.
This article was originally published on British Vogue.
