A Fun Way to Improve Memory

Playing video games can increase your brain power-- especially your memory. Games that ask you to manipulate objects in space (like Tetris) actually increase the size of your hippocampus, the part of your brain that is used for memory.

Workout Your Brain

Use it or lose it doesn´t just apply to your muscles, but to your brain too! Challenge your brain to prevent dementia and maintain cognitive power. Read, do crossword puzzles, learn a new hobby, or study a foreign language. Do anything that requires to expand your reasoning and think in new ways. Try to stay away from the TV, which encourages passivity and puts your brain on neutral.

Sleep & Memory

Sleep is essential for forming new memories. Research has shown that people who stay up all night after learning a new task are less likely to remember it in the morning than those who get adequate sleep.

Lifestyle and Your Brain

Lifestyle is an important influence on brain functioning. If you lead a balanced life whereby you eat right, manage stress and keep your mind active, your mind will work better because your brain chemicals will be in synch.

Aerobics and Your Brain

Did you know that aerobic exercise can make your mind work better? It reduces stress and sends more oxygen to the brain, providing more energy and resources to your brain cells. Get 30 minutes of aerobic activity daily to keep brain cells healthy and receptive to new information.

Intelligence Quotient

Alfred Binet composed the first intelligence test. The test contained many questions designed to determine how well children understand the world around them. Because a child´s knowledge about the environment and ability to adapt to the environment changes with development, the intelligence test must be scored differently for various ages. Binet determined "average mental levels" for each age group by tallying the average number and type of questions answered correctly by each age group. The intelligence quotient was computed by dividing the child´s mental age by his or her chronological age.

While the value of the IQ test is debated, the term "intelligence quotient" clearly is dated. IQ is a misnomer because the quotient hasn´t been used for more than 60 years.

Break the Rut

Get out of your mental rut. When we think about things from ony one perspetive, we get into a mental rut. How do you get unstuck?

Take a break so that you have enough space to think beyond the bad approach you´ve been using. Now do something creative like play an interactive video game to get yourself to think in an unconventional way, become more open minded, and come to new solutions.