"A powerful tool for activating the brain - Color psychosomatics" speech by Academician G.L. Rogachevsky in the Hall of Columns in the House of the Unions. Pills to improve brain activity and memory Activation of the brain and acceleration of thinking

It is important what wave you tune your brain to after waking up.

Before moving on to specific actions to activate the brain, let's find out its main feature. Your brain adapts to the environment, to the specific situation in which you find yourself. When you listen to music, your brain tunes in to receive information. Go in for sports - the brain begins to overcome difficulties and strengthen willpower. You are engaged in training - the process of memorizing information and generating new ideas is turned on in your head. The brain adapts to each situation and does it pretty quickly. This is a huge plus for you, but not knowing what happens next can be fatal.

The brain adjusts quite quickly after waking up (in the first hour of the day), but rewiring the brain for other activities is quite difficult. To do this, you need to reboot, in the truest sense of the word. For your brain, a full 7-9 hour sleep is a reboot. Of course, there are many other ways to get yourself into a working mood, but they require serious effort and at least 6 hours of restructuring. Let's look deep into the problem and work with its roots. I guarantee you that if you do what is written below, your day will be one of the most productive of the whole year.

The root of the problem is in the morning tuning of the brain. How you set it up is how you will live throughout the day. Morning watching TV / videos will tune the brain to receive information. All you can do all day long is go with the flow and enjoy how your day is run by other idea generators (other people). I don't think this situation suits you. There is another important point - the morning meal. This is an important part of a full morning, but, unfortunately, it sets your brain to stay in a sleeping state throughout the day. It is better to delay eating for 45 minutes and activate your brain to generate ideas.

How to activate your brain after waking up?

You only have one hour. How you use it depends on how you spend the whole day.

1. The easiest way is to read an educational book for 45 minutes. The effect will not come immediately, perhaps for the first couple of days you will struggle with sleep and strengthen your willpower, overcoming the temptation to sleep for another 30 minutes. In a week, your brain activity will increase many times, you will walk down the street and new ideas and thoughts will come into your head. You will act and not procrastinate, as you spend the first hour of your day tuning your brain with the exact sequence:

1) Take and do - you take and read a book without putting it off for later.
2) Generation of information in your head - at the time of reading, the brain is actively working.
3) Generation of new ideas - at the time of reading, new ideas come in your field of activity, which you will immediately put into practice. IMPORTANT: You must read the training literature.

2. Conduct "internal dialogue" for 20 minutes. This will activate the brain to generate new ideas, improve willpower and concentration throughout the day. IMPORTANT: the internal dialogue must have a specific goal that you set for yourself.

3. Morning run for 10-15 minutes. The first couple of days will be difficult, but in two weeks you will be a generator of energy and positive. Your willpower will be strengthened, and your every day will begin with the skill of “take and do”, I don’t care that I want to sleep, I got up and ran. IMPORTANT: It is forbidden to listen to music while jogging, this will set the brain to receive information. As you run, try to mentally focus on the question, “What would my ideal day be?”

4. Do at least something useful that will require turning on the brain to generate ideas and thoughts.

Above are 3 examples. 3 working examples that have already been tested by more than 360 people at the training "Productive Thinking". You can come up with something of your own, but you can use what has already helped many

Most people are most often dissatisfied with their own knowledge and try to improve memory and brain function by any means. However, exercise alone is often not enough.

After all, there can be many reasons for excessive absent-mindedness and forgetfulness: these are excessive fatigue, malnutrition, lack of oxygen due to a sedentary lifestyle, bad habits, etc.

Physical exercises

University teachers have long noticed that students who lead a healthy lifestyle are also successful in their studies. The magical power of sports, which helps to achieve mental clarity, has a completely scientific explanation. According to the latest data, with each heartbeat, 20-25% of the blood goes to the brain. Together with it, not only nutrients, but also oxygen enter it.

Aerobic breathing exercises have a significant effect on the hippocampus (the part of the brain responsible for the transition of short-term memory to long-term memory). Moreover, according to researchers from Canada, it is possible to increase its size with the help of sports at any age, including in old age.

Regular exercise, which promotes the flow of oxygen, also allows you to increase the production of a special, specific only for the nervous system, a protein responsible for the development of brain cells and their survival.

Advice!The usual evening run before the exam will not only relieve nervous tension before a serious test, but also saturate the blood, and hence the brain cells, with oxygen.

Memory training

It is believed that most people remember only 5% of the information learned in a lifetime. Another 35% of them are able to remember part of it with the help of leading questions. However, any organ, including the brain, can and should be trained.

There are many ways to improve brain function and develop memory. It could be:

regular reading;
memorizing poems or songs;
interesting hobby;
solving crossword puzzles or puzzles;
playing chess, etc.

You can help your brain concentrate better with the help of special exercises. And you can do them "on the go":

while in transport or on the street, look at a person for a few seconds, then turn away and restore his appearance in memory (color of hair, eyes, clothes, etc.); you can consider and analyze not only people, but also any objects;
when purchasing products, try to mentally calculate at least the approximate cost of purchases; compare and memorize prices in various stores, this will help not only train your brain, but also save money;
stimulate it and any new activities - that is, even if in the morning you brush your teeth not with your right, but with your left hand, this will already be unusual for the brain, which means a new event that requires concentration.

Advice! Psychologists have developed a fairly large number of techniques that help improve memory and brain attention. However, a person very quickly remembers only information that is interesting to him. Therefore, choose from all the existing methods suitable for you. At the same time, regularly introduce some of your own innovations into the training complex.

Improve memory and brain function through meditation

Most people do not know how to fully concentrate and disconnect from extraneous thoughts or external stimuli. You can learn to concentrate your own attention with the help of simple exercises.

Researchers have found that people who practice meditation have increased gray matter density. The number of neural connections they also have is much higher. With the help of yoga, you can significantly synchronize the work of both hemispheres of the brain.

Moreover, to improve brain function, it is not necessary to perform any complex exercises. The simplest asanas and the initial stages of meditation will help his work. They will not only teach you to focus, but also improve brain circulation and strengthen the nervous system.

Advice! All exercises should be carried out in complete silence. The muscles of the body must be completely relaxed. At first, attention is concentrated on one's own body and its individual parts. Gradually, it switches to the surrounding sounds and smells. The presence of any extraneous thoughts during class is undesirable.

Healthy foods

What foods improve memory and brain function? They can be divided into two groups: fast and long-term effects. For example, chocolate, containing magnesium and glucose, can stimulate brain cells quite strongly. However, its duration is limited in time. With regular consumption of nuts, it is possible to significantly improve long-term memory.
Natural stimulants-vitamins that improve memory and brain function include:

bioflavonoids (vitamins D, E and P);
all B vitamins, including folic acid (the "genius" vitamin);
vitamins C.

Advice! Taking vitamins is best combined with preparations containing omega-3 acids.

Most important for long-term brain function are most of the B vitamins found in liver, greens, eggs, and dairy products. The same eggs, dairy products, as well as beans and poultry meat also contain adrenaline and dopamine, which increase not only physical but also mental activity.

It should be included in the diet and tomatoes, soy, dates, figs, bananas and chocolate containing serotin - the hormone of joy. It is he who is responsible not only for our appetite, sexual desires, but also for memory and learning ability.

Advice! It has been noticed that the inhabitants of Italy, who consume enough vegetable (olive) oil, which contains omega acids, which reduces the level of "bad" cholesterol and normalizes blood pressure, maintain clarity of mind much longer.

Do not forget about this product, which is very useful for the brain. You can also make up for the lack of omega acids with the help of nuts, oily fish and pumpkin.

Maintain your weight

The balance of glucose - the main nutrient for brain cells - is significantly disturbed in overweight people. With an increased content of carbohydrates and animal fats, the content of a protein with a rather long name - the neurotropic factor of the brain - responsible for the health of neurons, also decreases.

So if you want to be successful, watch your weight. Eat more memory and brain-boosting foods such as whole grains, fish, nuts, leafy greens, fresh or steamed vegetables and fruits. Moreover, for the proper functioning of the brain, not only the composition, but also a balanced diet is important. The intake of important nutrients in the body should not occur occasionally, but systematically and regularly.

Advice!When overeating, a large amount of energy is spent on processing food. That is why a person becomes lethargic and drowsy after eating. To be in shape, before an important meeting or event, limit yourself to light food containing a minimum of calories.

The benefits of sleep

With a lack of sleep, the whole body suffers. But its absence is especially painful for the brain. After all, it is during sleep that the analysis and processing of the information received during the day takes place. Without proper sorting and processing, the brain will simply be unable to perceive something new.

With constant sleep deprivation, a person's performance decreases rapidly. If night wakefulness occurs regularly, it can even result in serious functional diseases, including mental and psychomotor disorders.

For sleep, choose a warm, darkened room. The habit of going to bed at the same time has a beneficial effect on rest - in this case, falling asleep occurs without difficulty. It should be preceded by a calm, relaxing environment. Taking a warm relaxing shower, reading a good book, etc., has a beneficial effect on falling asleep.

Advice! Sleep duration varies from person to person. Moreover, excess sleep is just as harmful as its lack. But if you feel overwhelmed even after 7-8 hours of full sleep, try to revise your routine and increase its duration by at least half an hour. Longer sleep is also required in case of strenuous physical or mental work.

Folk remedies

Help improve memory and brain function and folk remedies:

blueberry juice;
a mixture of freshly squeezed juices of beets and carrots;
horseradish roots and leaves;
red rowan bark;
pine buds;
mint;
sage;
clover;
calamus roots;
elecampane roots.

All these plants can strengthen the vessels of the brain and improve its blood supply.

Advice! Any herbal preparations and herbs that improve memory and brain function can be included in aromatherapy courses. Be sure to find time for walking in flowering gardens and parks: the aromas of roses, lily of the valley, linden, bird cherry can have a beneficial effect on neuron cells.

Child's memory

With regular and sufficient sleep, feasible physical activity, proper nutrition and the absence of stress and conflicts in the family and school, a healthy child should not have problems with remembering. After all, it is at an early age that neuroplasticity - the ability of the brain to adapt to our requirements - is better developed in children than in adults.

However, at primary school age, the ability to concentrate attention for a long time and logical thinking are still poorly developed, therefore, first of all, attention should be paid to their training. And this should be done in an unobtrusive game form. To support the child's desire to learn new things, it is imperative to show him how to use new knowledge in everyday life or play.

It is possible to improve memory and brain function in a child with the development of at least two of the three main channels - auditory, motor and visual. Easily learn new knowledge and children who can visualize what they hear, present it in "pictures". It is great if visual samples are used for teaching: toys or drawings.

Advice! Excessive brain tension is perceived by the body as violent, and it immediately turns on a defensive reaction in the form of drowsiness, headache, etc. Therefore, the number of activities with the child should be strictly proportionate to his age.

Medications that improve memory

Already after the age of 30, the rate of perception of new information begins to decrease, and by the age of 40–50, memorizing it quite often becomes a serious problem. In order to maintain mental clarity for as long as possible, experts advise not only to eat right, exercise and exercise the brain regularly, but also to take special formulations. Drugs that improve memory and brain function include:

glycine: contributing to the acceleration of chemical reactions, reducing nervous tension;
piracetam: improving cerebral circulation, concentration of attention;
aminalon: enhancing energy processes in nerve cells, accelerating the transmission of impulses, stimulating the absorption of glucose;
phenibut: improves sleep, reduces tension; facilitating the transmission of nerve impulses to the central nervous system;

pantogam: stimulating metabolic processes in neurons; often prescribed to children with mental retardation;
phenotropil: accelerating the breakdown of glucose; blood circulation; improving concentration;
vitrum memory: improves the supply of oxygen and glucose to the brain, increases cerebral circulation.

However, all of these drugs can cause side effects and fluctuations in blood pressure. Therefore, without first consulting a doctor, they should not be taken.

Advice!Smoking kills blood vessels that feed the brain. Moreover, in the fight against this poison, even the most powerful means that improve memory and brain function may be powerless. If you want your brain to work like clockwork, quit this addiction as soon as possible.

The ability to think logically, notice and memorize facts, build chains of inference - that's what distinguishes man from animals. The work of the brain is a subtle biochemical and electrochemical process. Mindfulness, memory, freshness of perception primarily depend on the state of nerve cells - neurons and their nutrition. It is common to think that enhancement drugs are needed only for older people, but this is not true. Violations of memory and thinking are possible at any age and are due to a number of reasons.

Causes of impaired brain activity

Doctors do not recommend self-treatment of even slight weakening of brain function in the first place because it can be a sign of a serious illness. Memory, attention, learning can deteriorate for the following reasons.

Circulatory disorders in the brain - prolonged uncomfortable posture, atherosclerosis, osteochondrosis, hypertension, vascular thrombosis, ischemia, stroke.
Improving the functioning of the brain is problematic when smoking and drinking alcohol, since nicotine and alcohol are the strongest vascular poisons. When they enter the body, the brain suffers first of all - after all, it needs sufficient blood supply more than all other organs.
Traumatic brain injuries, general intoxication of the body, past infectious diseases.
Stress, lack of sleep, lack of rest.
General depletion of the body, malnutrition, dietary restriction. In this case, the body develops a chronic deficiency of vitamins and minerals necessary for brain function.

In order for the brain to improve, it is necessary to normalize the mode of activity and rest, eat right and do gymnastics to normalize the blood circulation of the cervical spine and head. It is useful to do exercises that stimulate mental activity: master new activities, solve crosswords and puzzles, and so on. In case of severe memory impairment, you should consult a doctor. Currently, there are various drugs to improve brain function, but they should be prescribed by a specialist. The doctor will conduct an examination, select the optimal medicine, dose and determine the course of application.

Tablets for memory

All drugs to improve brain function can be conditionally divided into several categories.

Nootropic drugs are drugs that regulate the metabolism in the brain and increase its resistance to lack of oxygen.
Means that improve blood supply to the brain.
Vitamins necessary for biochemical processes in the brain.
Amino acids involved in the transmission of nerve impulses and the production of biologically active substances.
Herbal remedies that have a stimulating effect on the body as a whole and higher nervous activity in particular.

It should be borne in mind that of all of the above, only vitamins and amino acids are relatively harmless. All other drugs have contraindications and can only be used as prescribed by a doctor. Many of them are used for serious mental disorders, organic brain damage and have side effects.

All drugs, with the exception of stimulants, must be taken in long courses. It is wrong to think that memory and attention will improve immediately after taking the Piracetam pill. The duration of treatment ranges from several weeks to six months. Sometimes it is required to conduct several courses, taking a break between them.

Nootropics

These are drugs to improve brain function, belonging to the group of psychotropic drugs. The mechanism of action of nootropics is not well understood. It was revealed that they have the ability to facilitate the transmission of nerve impulses, stimulate the blood supply to the brain, improve energy processes and increase the body's resistance to oxygen deficiency. As a result, memory improves, learning increases, mental activity is stimulated and the brain's resistance to aggressive influences is ensured.

Unlike other psychotropic drugs, nootropic drugs are characterized by low toxicity, they do not cause circulatory disorders.

The most famous representatives of this group are drugs:

"Piracetam" ("Nootropil"),
"Pikamilon",
"Phenibut",
"Aminalon" ("Gammalon"),
"Pantogam",
"Acephen".

For the treatment of chronic conditions, tablets to improve brain function are prescribed 1 tablet 3 times a day for 2-3 weeks to 2-6 months. The therapeutic effect is observed two weeks after the start of treatment.

Drugs that improve blood circulation

In the case, due to the poor condition of the blood and blood vessels, antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants are prescribed to improve brain function. Antiplatelet agents include the following:

"Nicergolin",
"Xanthinol nicotinate" ("Complamin"),
"Ticlopidine"
"Tiklid",
"Kurantil",
"Pentoxifylline" ("Trental"),
"Acetylsalicylic acid",
"Clonidogrel".

For anticoagulants:

"Solcoseryl",
"Heparin",
"Cerebrolysin",
"Actovegin",
"Vazobral".

Drugs to improve brain function in this group have side effects.

Stimulants of nervous activity

Stimulants have an undeniable advantage - the result of their use is visible almost immediately. Unfortunately, you have to pay for everything. With the abuse of stimulants, the improvement in brain function occurs for a short time, addiction develops over time and an increasing dose is required. In addition, the brain is exhausted, which can lead to severe fatigue and headaches.

The most available stimulants are found in foods.

Coffee contains caffeine and L-theanine, which improve blood flow to the brain and stimulate transmission
Chocolate and cocoa. The antioxidants flavanols contained in cocoa powder improve the biochemical processes in the brain and protect it from stress factors.

vitamins

With increased mental activity, it will be useful to take vitamins to improve brain function.

Choline. In addition to improving the absorption of fats in the liver, choline is involved in the production of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which is necessary for the transmission of nerve impulses. To stimulate mental activity, choline is taken at 0.5-2 g per day, depending on individual tolerance. Overdose may cause headaches.
Omega-3 fatty acids are used by doctors for the complex therapy of age-related depression of brain functions. They are found in fatty fish, legumes, walnuts. Daily consumption of 1-2 fish oil capsules fully covers the body's need for Omega-3 acids.

Amino acids

In addition to vitamins, a number of amino acids are needed to synthesize neurotransmitters and supply brain cells with energy:

Acetyl-L-carnitine is involved in carbohydrate metabolism and releases intracellular energy.
Tyrosine. Apply with caution in diseases of the thyroid gland.
Glycine provides improved brain function, increases efficiency and normalizes sleep. Relieves nervousness, normalizes mood.
Creatine regulates energy processes in the brain tissue.

There are drugs that include several vitamins and amino acids, aimed at improving brain function and memory.

Complex preparations

The drug "Biotredin". Pills to improve brain function containing threonine and pyridoxine (vitamin B6).
Means "Brain Booster" - a colloidal preparation of complex composition, containing vegetable raw materials and a number of neurotransmitters - substances that improve the functioning of neurons.

Dietary supplements and herbal remedies

For minor disorders, pills are used to improve brain function based on plant extracts.

Means "Ginkgo biloba" - flavonoid glycosides and terpenoids from Chinese Normalizes microcirculation, has a vasodilating effect, prevents the oxidation of fats and has the ability to increase tissue resistance to oxygen deficiency. Do not use simultaneously with other drugs that improve blood circulation during pregnancy and lactation.
The drug "Vinpocetine" is an alkaloid of the periwinkle plant. Improves blood circulation in the brain, has anticoagulant activity. Contraindicated in children, pregnant and lactating women, as well as in violation of cardiac activity, in the acute phase of a stroke.
Means "Biocalcium for the brain" - a set of vitamins, mineral elements, amino acids and antioxidants.
Asian ginseng has a general stimulating effect on metabolism, improves blood circulation and glucose metabolism. Recommended to improve brain activity in case of fatigue, bad mood, increased nervousness.
Rhodiola rosea affects the production of dopamine and serotonin in the central nervous system, which has a beneficial effect on the general condition of the body, memory, attention, concentration and visual perception.

All of these drugs to improve brain function can be taken for preventive purposes. As with other herbal remedies, the course of treatment is long - at least 3-4 weeks, and on average - 2-3 months.

Precautionary measures

The deterioration of brain activity can be caused by a disease that requires examination and serious treatment. Therefore, before taking pills, consult a doctor for advice. For preventive purposes, they take herbal preparations and amino acids. For a quick short-term improvement in thinking processes, stimulants are used. They should not be abused, as long-term use has the opposite effect and consumes brain resources without recovery.

How do food, alcohol, exercise, intellectual work affect brain function? Numerous studies allow not only to answer this question, but also to understand how to activate the activity of the brain of an ordinary person.

15:19 15.02.2013

Scientists have not yet unraveled all the mysteries of the human brain. One of these mysteries, unfortunately, remains diseases like Alzheimer's disease. But still, researchers can help those who want to keep their thinking organ in shape. This is quite within your power - the advice of doctors is very simple. The main thing is to remember that the result will be tangible if you engage in yourself regularly.

Check yourself!

This simple test will help you understand if your brain needs help to take action in time.

1. Do you forget names, dates, phone numbers, keys?
2. Do you often doubt that you closed the door, turned off the iron?
3. Do you remember past events better than yesterday?
4. Can't concentrate, concentrate?
5. Do you have increased workloads, stress at work?
6. Are you worried about frequent headaches, dizziness, tinnitus?
7. Are there rises in blood pressure?
8. Have there been cases of atherosclerosis with memory impairment in your family?
If you answered “NO” to all questions: you have nothing to worry about - the brain functions perfectly!

If you answered "YES" to questions 1 to 5: you need to help the brain. Proper diet and 2-3 weeks of a healthy lifestyle will bring results.

If you answered "YES" to 6-8: Your brain urgently needs help. Don't delay taking decisive action. Watch your diet, more active movement in the fresh air. To prevent problems, go to a consultation with a neurologist.

We clean the vessels

There are many reasons for body pollution: air containing harmful substances, food and water, tobacco, alcohol, drugs. To restore the functioning of the brain, it is necessary to cleanse the vessels and blood.

The passage of blood through the capillaries and their walls is possible only with good cell membrane permeability and blood flow. Four main dangers lie in wait for us. The first is the contamination of cells and cell membranes. The second is the blockage of blood vessels and capillaries with atherosclerotic plaques (80% of people over 30 have them!). The third is compression of blood vessels, arteries and veins by fatty deposits, which leads to a decrease in their diameter and, as a result, to impaired cerebral circulation. The fourth is a slowdown in the speed of blood flow, including due to insufficient fluid intake.

Please note: during the day you should drink at least 2.5 liters of liquid: it can be water, juices, tea, compote.

Before dinner, it is useful to drink a glass of apple, cabbage or carrot juice.
During lunch and dinner, be sure to eat onions, a clove of garlic, carrots, coleslaw with horseradish and parsley, or a portion of buckwheat porridge. These products play the role of a kind of "broom".

Onions, garlic and preparations from them are very useful. They destroy atherosclerotic plaques that impede the movement of blood through the vessels of the brain.

And here is a great anti-sclerotic recipe: In the morning on an empty stomach, drink a glass of water with soda and lemon juice to dissolve cholesterol deposits. The next day - a glass of lime-colored herbal decoction, clover leaves, oregano, St. John's wort, strawberries, currants, taken in equal parts, with a spoonful of viburnum and mountain ash jam.

Cleansing the blood

Pour a tablespoon of horseradish gruel with a glass of sour cream. Take 1 tbsp. spoon 3 times a day before meals.
Mix a glass of onion juice with a glass of honey. Take 1 tbsp. spoon 3 times a day an hour before meals for at least a month.
50 g of dry elecampane root pour 0.5 liters of vodka, leave for 2 weeks, strain, take 1 teaspoon 3 times a day before meals for at least three months.
Melissa leaves pour boiling water, insist in a thermos, drink 40-50 g 3 times a day.
To cleanse the blood and blood vessels, try a special collection. It includes: mulberry - 5 parts, chicory, horsetail, hawthorn flowers - 4 parts each, walnut leaves, sundew, stinging nettle - 3 parts each, motherwort and flax seeds - 2 parts each, immortelle - 5 parts. One tablespoon of the collection is poured into 200 ml of water and boiled for several minutes. Take 1/3 cup 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals. The course is designed for 30 days.

The brain needs oxygen!

Exercises, thanks to which the blood and brain cells are saturated with oxygen, are very important! Let's learn simple tricks!

Research scientists have confirmed that breath holding training creates the most favorable conditions for the absorption of oxygen by the blood and proper nutrition of the brain. Practice holding your breath while exhaling, trying to gradually increase the time. Every second gained prolongs life: the alveoli in the lungs open more fully, the blood is saturated with oxygen and, enriched, enters the brain. It is advisable to perform this exercise daily.

The second important technique is rhythmic breathing. It is performed for an average of 10 minutes: inhale for 8 beats of the pulse, hold the breath for 8 beats, exhale also stretches for 8 beats, followed by a new delay for 8 beats of the pulse.

These two exercises are enough to improve cerebral circulation if practiced regularly for several months. It is very useful to do this in the fresh air, for example in the country or on a walk in the park.

!After finishing breathing exercises, calmly breathe in the aromas of plants that stimulate and normalize the work of the heart and brain. Peppers, cloves, bay leaves, dill, coriander, fresh parsley or basil are suitable for this.

Healing aroma

Breathe more often the air filled with the aroma of roses, wild rose, bird cherry, lily of the valley, linden, oregano, mint and hops. Whenever possible, put a drop of rose oil or tea tree oil near your nose and go about your business. Make it a rule to put a bouquet of flowers on your desktop. In spring - bird cherry, lilies of the valley or flowering linden, in summer - roses. And in winter, a bouquet can replace a few drops of rose oil dissolved in a cup of water.

5 most common misconceptions

The human brain, one of the greatest creations of evolution, still remains a great mystery to scientists. Scientists who study the brain claim that it is less cognizable than the cosmos. And it is not surprising that there are many misconceptions related to the work of the brain.

1. The opinion that the larger the brain, the smarter the person, still exists among the people. This is not true. By the way, the largest weight of the brain is in the mentally ill. By the way, the studies of the German scientist T. Bischof, who studied 120 years ago the mass of gray matter in two thousand representatives of various social strata, showed that it was not scientists or nobles who had the heaviest brains, but ... workers!

2. It is also not true that developed peoples have heavier brains. For example, the British have an average brain mass of 1346 grams, the Buryats have 1481 grams, and the Kenyans have 1296 grams, more than the French have 1280 grams.

3. The popular opinion among the people that the human mind depends on the number of convolutions of the brain and their depth does not correspond to reality. As in the case of the weight of the brain, it turned out that the most convolutions are in idiots.

4. Neurophysiologists completely refuted the earlier opinion that the human brain is a hopeless lazy person and only 10% of nerve cells work in it at the same time. Although individual neurons take a day off from time to time, for the most part, almost all of them work diligently, even when we sleep.

5. And one more misconception related to the work of our brain. It is generally accepted that brains differ only in mass, but are similar to each other, like enlarged or reduced photocopies of the same device. This is also a mistake - the brain of each of us is unique not only in content, but also in form.

Physical activity - yes!

Have you noticed that after active movements you think better? Blood begins to actively circulate in the body, which significantly improves brain function. At rest, the vessels of the brain are filled with blood only by 10-20%.

Even Avicenna noticed that the brain is best supplied with blood, and the vessels of the brain are best trained when performing inclinations. They not only increase blood flow and improve the elasticity of blood vessels, but also contribute to the formation of new neural connections necessary for productive mental activity.

At first, do the exercises carefully - our vessels are so weak that even simple inclinations can cause dizziness and flashing "flies" before the eyes. Very soon you will get used to it, and nothing will interfere with you. By the way, doctors have noticed that those who do a headstand usually do not have strokes and other diseases associated with impaired cerebral circulation and spasms of cerebral vessels.

Tilts and rotations of the head. Stretching your neck, tilt your head back, then sharply lower it forward, trying to touch your chest with your chin. Alternately tilt your head to the left and right shoulder, trying to touch them with your ear. Perform also full head rotations, first clockwise, then against it, gradually increasing their number from 1-2 to 10 times.

Asynchronous rotations. This exercise is best done while standing, but it can also be done while sitting, since only hands are included in the work: the right hand is rotated towards you, and the left hand away from you. Such asynchronous movements train both hemispheres of the brain, one of which is "responsible" for logical, and the other for figurative thinking.

Nutrition for the brain

Of the 20 known amino acids that are the building blocks of proteins, 8 are considered essential. This means that the body cannot synthesize them, but receives them from the outside, with food. Therefore, for the normal functioning of the whole organism, and the brain in particular, these amino acids must be supplied in sufficient quantities.

The essential amino acid phenylalanine is required for the synthesis of the hormones adrenaline and norepinephrine, which are responsible for the speed of the reaction. The main suppliers of phenylalanine are animal products: meat, fish, poultry, milk, sour cream, cottage cheese and eggs. In the course of research, scientists found that people who ate only lean food for a month had a reduced reaction rate. There is very little phenylalanine in vegetables, so vegetarians need to take special steps to replenish it.

For optimal brain function and maintaining a normal mental state, especially in old age, the essential amino acid tryptophan is essential. Some scientists believe that tryptophan prevents aging - a sufficient amount of it in food can stop the aging process of cells. A lot of tryptophan is found in chicken and turkey meat, fish, cottage cheese, nuts, dates, figs, dried apricots, bananas, grapes.

Lysine is an essential amino acid for the brain. This essential amino acid in the body should be enough if a person wants to think quickly and clearly until old age. The thinking process can be activated by eating foods rich in lysine - bitter chocolate, cocoa, corn, legumes, nuts, seeds, sprouted wheat and oats. Especially useful is oatmeal. A lot of this substance is also found in animal products: meat, chicken, turkey.

The essential amino acid leucine helps to enhance mental activity and strengthen memory. You need to eat more low-fat cottage cheese, germinated rye seeds, and also drink milk (preferably goat), eat yogurt and kefir. Lots of leucine in lean meats and liver.

For proper cholesterol metabolism, the body requires the amino acid methionine. Sources of methionine are egg yolks, fish, legumes, buckwheat, cabbage, carrots, green peas, oranges, watermelons, and melons.

It is not for nothing that there is a saying among the people: "Keep your feet warm, your head cold." Training of the vessels of the brain with cold (washing with cold water, dousing) is also an excellent gymnastics for the vessels of the brain.

The head must work!

In order for the brain not to age, it is necessary to give it work. With intense mental activity, oxygen-enriched blood actively enters the brain cells.

For those who constantly use their intellectual potential, some deterioration in the functioning of the brain occurs only in extreme old age. Everyone knows that in order to strengthen muscles, they need to be loaded and trained. The same thing happens with the brain: its normal functioning is possible only with daily intellectual stress. The brain of a person who reads a lot, thinks, reflects, is in a stably trained state.

But as soon as you stop loading your brain, the cells responsible for mental functions begin to die as unnecessary. The French philosopher B. Pascal did not forget any of his magnificent aphorisms, and he has more than two thousand of them. Knowing many languages, he claimed that he never forgot a word once learned. Seneca could repeat two thousand words, hearing them only once, in the same order in which they were spoken.

Gineas, the ambassador of King Pyrrhus in Rome, memorized the names of those assembled so well during the day that he could greet the senators and the people, calling each by name. There is nothing incredible in this. Everyone can develop these abilities with regular practice. You need to start with the easiest exercises, for example, solving crossword puzzles. This perfectly trains the memory, increases erudition, makes the convolutions strain, increasing their mobility.

Try to develop figurative memory. In the evening, in a calm atmosphere, close your eyes and remember in detail what gave you special pleasure during the day, for example, a delicious dish. You need to feel its aroma, taste, remember how the table was set, mentally consider plates, forks, napkins, their color, shape ... Gradually you will fix those phenomena or objects that you did not pay attention to before. For example, a drop of dew playing in the sun, a petal of a blossoming rose, a rainbow after rain. It is desirable to write down the brightest impressions.

5 of your principles

Why do these simple tips work? They have serious medical research behind them!

1. Eat brain-healthy foods
We are what we eat, at least for the brain this is true. A diet of unhealthy foods high in trans fats can be detrimental to brain synapse function. Synapses create connections between neurons and are essential for learning and memory. On the other hand, a balanced diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids (found in marine fish (salmon, mackerel, salmon), walnuts, and kiwi fruit) can improve performance.

2. Go in for sports
Doctors say that by training the body, we make the brain work better. Physical activity is stress for the body. As a result, more energy goes to the work of the muscles, forcing the brain to make do with less energy. At the same time, special substances are released that make neurons stronger and healthier. Half an hour of training in the gym every two days is enough.

3. Puzzles
Not only the muscles of the body must work, the brain must also sometimes strain. For this, puzzles, crosswords, puzzles, memory games, or intellectual games like the “brain ring” are quite suitable. Even close observation of political debates activates systems that control attention and learning that are hardwired into the brain.

4. Memory tricks
Remembering and retrieving memories with age can also be a matter of practice. For example, self-confidence can actually affect memory performance, especially for older people. With the onset of old age, there is an increasing temptation to attribute everything to age, without even trying to really remember something. You can also improve memory if you prepare in advance. If you roughly imagine what you may need to remember after a while, the probability of successfully remembering everything is higher.

5. Rest
Sleep gives the brain time to process memories and transfer them from short-term memory to long-term memory. One study suggests that these processes are much faster during sleep than during wakefulness. A 90-minute nap at lunchtime can help build long-term memory, including the skills you're trying to learn.