The researchers propose that this may lead to improvements in cognitive function and overall well-being. According to a study , playing an instrument may benefit cognitive development in a young brain and help protect against cognitive impairment in an aging brain.

Such hobbies may include:. Regular physical exercise is beneficial for both the brain and the body. Authors of a review note that exercise improves the following aspects of brain health:. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC , exercise has beneficial effects on the following aspects of cognitive health:.

Dance is a form of exercise that may also engage areas of the brain involved in rhythm and balance. Certain sports are both physically and mentally demanding.

Some require a range of cognitive skills, such as:. A review notes that elite athletes who participate in high demand sports tend to have improved attention and faster information processing speeds. Tai chi is a form of physical exercise that involves gentle body movements, rhythmic breathing, and meditation.

A study compared brain function and connectivity among tai chi practitioners and those who did not practice it. The researchers found that the tai chi practitioners had enhanced connectivity between different regions of their brain. They proposed that this may improve cognition and decrease the rate of memory loss.

While not necessarily an active exercise, sleep is crucial for both the brain and the body. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke , most adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each night, although many people get less sleep than they need.

A review notes that sleep has been proven to:. As such, making sure to get enough sleep each night is an important step toward maintaining a healthy brain. Brain exercises can be as simple as actively engaging the brain in everyday tasks. Others are targeted workouts for the brain, specifically designed to enhance memory, cognition, or creativity.

Exercising the brain may help improve brain function and boost connectivity between the different areas. This may help protect the brain from age-related degeneration. People are likely to differ in terms of the brain exercises they find most enjoyable.

It may be a good idea to try a range of brain-training activities at first and to stick with those that provide the most enjoyment or reward.

The diet can have a significant impact on the brain's function. A brain-healthy diet, rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, can boost memory…. Are you looking for ways to improve your mind and boost brain power in ? Look no further; we have compiled the best brain enhancing methods to try.

Brain atrophy can refer to a loss of brain cells or a loss in the number of connections between these cells. In this article, learn about the symptoms….

Researchers found that applying controlled electric shocks to some areas of the brain may improve long-term and working memory in older adults. Learn about the symptoms and causes of Becker muscular dystrophy.

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Medical News Today. Health Conditions Health Products Discover Tools Connect. Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD — By Jon Johnson — Updated on April 4, Meditation Visualizing more Playing games Card games Crosswords Puzzles Sudoku Chess Checkers Video games Socializing Learning new skills Increasing vocabulary Learning a language Listening to music Musical instruments Engaging hobbies Regular exercise Dancing Sports Tai chi Sleeping Summary Brain exercises may help boost and maintain brain function.

Visualizing more. Playing games. Playing memory card games. Practicing crossword puzzles. Completing jigsaw puzzles. Playing sudoku. Playing chess. Playing checkers. Playing video games. Learning new skills. Increasing personal vocabulary. Learning a new language. Listening to music.

Learning a musical instrument. Taking up engaging hobbies. Exercising regularly. The key with brain exercises is that to really be effective, they have to require you to actively participate in them. Things that are more passive, such as watching TV, give you some visual stimulation, but there's no back-and-forth engagement, explains Douglas Scharre, M.

Tan, M. Consider a trip to the grocery store: Remembering what you intended to buy without having a list to look at requires an ability to recall things.

Running into a peer from elementary school, remembering how you know them and holding a conversation requires a quick processing speed on top of recall. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to study the effects that certain activities have on our brain. Your best bet is to all different kinds of things that exercise your brain in different ways.

It seems one of the best things you can do for better cognition is physical exercise. It increases blood flow to the brain; reduces the risk of stroke, high blood pressure and diabetes three risk factors for developing memory problems ; and lowers inflammation oxidation which has also been implicated in dementia , according to Dr.

New to exercise and not sure where to start? Check out our list of the 10 best cardio exercises to try at home or in a gym. If you want to take the benefits of exercise to a whole new level, consider a sport that requires you to play with other people. On top of the physical exercise, research shows that sports require you to make quick decisions and solve problems Where is my teammate?

Should I run faster? Which strategic play might work best right now? and give you the opportunity to socialize with others, Dr. Scharre points out. Seriously, getting together with other people is extremely good for your brain.

You go back and forth with this thing called discourse. All these parts of the brain are being involved and integrated. The next time you open the calculator app on your phone, research suggests you might want to pause for a second and decide if the math problem at hand is something you can solve without technology.

In fact, one study found that senior citizens who given basic math and reading problems to work on every day for six months experienced boosts in processing speed and executive function. Knowing two languages allows you to connect with others you may not have communicated with before, makes travel easier and supports a healthy brain.

A meta-analysis found that people who are bilingual develop dementia at a later age than people who only speak one language. It may sound like a big commitment, but we found the best language-learning apps to get you started — and some are totally free. Doing a variety of puzzles is the key here since different ones engage different parts of your brain, but number games , crosswords and jigsaw puzzles may be particularly helpful.

Performing music requires you to mix the physicality of touch with remembering and hearing — in a short amount of time. Episodic memories are things we remember that happened in the past whether it be 30 years ago or 30 days ago. New to meditation? We researched a whole bunch of meditation apps and compiled a list of the best ones to help lower anxiety.

This training is thought to enhance working memory and cognitive abilities. One small study from involving 54 subjects found that after 16 sessions of using the dual n-back game, participants experienced improved working memory performance.

You can find dual n-back exercises online on various websites and apps dedicated to brain training. Crossword puzzles are word games that require you to fill in a grid with words, using clues to determine the correct answers.

Engaging in crossword puzzles can enhance cognition by stimulating:. In a week study of individuals with mild cognitive impairment MCI , researchers found that Web-based crossword puzzle training at home was more effective in improving cognitive function than other Web-based cognitive games.

Sudoku is a logic-based puzzle that involves filling a 9×9 grid with numbers so that each column, row, and 3×3 subgrid contains all the digits from 1 to 9 without repetition.

It requires both logic and attention. A small study investigated the brain activity of participants while they solved Sudoku puzzles.

The researchers found that when people engage in Sudoku tasks, both the medial and lateral regions of the prefrontal cortex PFC are involved. The medial PFC became particularly active when their brains were searching for logical rules and strategies to solve the Sudoku puzzle.

The findings suggest that Sudoku could be used for cognitive training, especially for neuropsychiatric disorders involving the PFC, including:. Go is an ancient Chinese board game that involves complex decision-making, spatial reasoning, and long-term planning. Playing Go can help improve your:.

One study found that Go players, especially those of high master level, had exceptional cognitive reflection test CRT scores, outperforming previous measurements of undergraduates at top universities. Frequent Go players also tended to possess a stronger theory of mind, which is the ability to understand and attribute mental states, like beliefs and emotions, to yourself and others, contributing to their social cognitive skills.

Bridge is a card game that involves critical thinking, memory, and strategic decision-making. It can be an enjoyable way to keep your brain sharp. An older study of people ages suggests that playing bridge may improve working memory and reasoning, but not vocabulary and reaction time.

Brain exercises, from chess to dual n-back training, serve as dynamic tools to keep our minds agile and resilient.

But research is mixed and further. They may enhance memory, problem-solving, and cognitive abilities. They may also contribute to structural changes in the brain, fostering neural reserve. For convenient access, explore online platforms and make enhancing cognitive abilities a regular part of your routine.

Your brain will thank you for the workout! Neuroplasticity may mean your brain can grow and heal on its own. If you're living with a mental health condition, your brain's ability to regenerate…. Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words can change your brain.

Research says yes. Researchers have found that years of meditation can change the structure and function of the brain. Here's how. Creating a schedule and managing stress are ways to make your days go by faster.

Changing your perception of time can also improve your overall…. Experiencing unwanted and difficult memories can be challenging. But learning how to replace negative memories with positive ones may help you cope. Sit outside, and write down everything you see, hear, and smell.

This engages areas of the brain that are not usually active and will help improve your concentration. If you have difficulty writing, you can also speak what you observe out loud. The important thing is to just pay close attention to your surroundings. Caregivers, place two different cards from a deck of playing cards face up and let the person view them for 5 seconds.

Turn the cards face down. Now ask them to point to the cards that are named e. Every once in a while ask for a card that was not shown. One good naming therapy exercise is to have someone else write down several general categories such as tools, animals, plants, countries, occupation, foods, sports, etc.

Then try to remember and name verbally or in writing as many items in that category as possible. For caregivers, if the patient gets stumped, you can give hints. Then, go and find those items without writing down what the person said. As you improve you should increase the number of items you must memorize, until you can recall 7 items.

Select four playing cards in sequence 3 of clubs, 4 of clubs, 5 of clubs and place in random order face up. After five seconds turn the cards face down. As you improve increase the number of cards in the sequence, allowing one more second of view time for each card added, to a maximum of 7 cards.

The following cognitive rehabilitation exercises can be used to help you improve your problem solving and planning skills:. Caregivers, give the person some coins and ask them to tell you which coins would add up to 35 cents, 54 cents, etc.

Color Sudoku stimulates similar pattern and logic areas of the brain as number Sudoku does, but is easier for people who might still have trouble manipulating numbers. The puzzle consists of three rods and at least 3 disks.

The more disks there are, the harder the puzzle is. The goal of the puzzle is to move all the disks over from the first rod to the third without having a larger disk end up on top of a smaller one.

This not only engages the logic and problem solving areas of your brain, it also requires you to plan ahead and strategize, which helps train executive functions. Chess and other brain-stimulating games like Sudoku and crossword puzzles are great for activating the left side of your brain and improving your problem-solving skills.

You can use cognitive exercise apps to motivate yourself to exercise your brain frequently. The more you practice cognitive exercises, the sharper your mental skills will become.

And there you have it! We hope you find these cognitive rehabilitation exercises for TBI recovery useful. Get instant access to our TBI recovery tips ebook with 20 pages of helpful advice by signing up below. Excessive Sweating After Head Injury: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments for Hyperhidrosis.

Can TBI Patients Fully Recover? Tips to Boost Chances of a Higher Recovery. Time with a speech therapist is extremely valuable during recovery, especially if you struggle with communication, critical thinking, or memory after brain injury. They include everything from computer-based puzzle games and reading to playing sports and talking to people.

The key with brain exercises is that to really be effective, they have to require you to actively participate in them. Things that are more passive, such as watching TV, give you some visual stimulation, but there's no back-and-forth engagement, explains Douglas Scharre, M.

Tan, M. Consider a trip to the grocery store: Remembering what you intended to buy without having a list to look at requires an ability to recall things.

Running into a peer from elementary school, remembering how you know them and holding a conversation requires a quick processing speed on top of recall. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to study the effects that certain activities have on our brain.

Your best bet is to all different kinds of things that exercise your brain in different ways. It seems one of the best things you can do for better cognition is physical exercise.

It increases blood flow to the brain; reduces the risk of stroke, high blood pressure and diabetes three risk factors for developing memory problems ; and lowers inflammation oxidation which has also been implicated in dementia , according to Dr.

New to exercise and not sure where to start? Check out our list of the 10 best cardio exercises to try at home or in a gym. If you want to take the benefits of exercise to a whole new level, consider a sport that requires you to play with other people. On top of the physical exercise, research shows that sports require you to make quick decisions and solve problems Where is my teammate?

Should I run faster? Which strategic play might work best right now? and give you the opportunity to socialize with others, Dr. Scharre points out.

Seriously, getting together with other people is extremely good for your brain. You go back and forth with this thing called discourse.

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Methods , 9—21 Oken, B. Statistical issues concerning computerized analysis of brainwave topography. Download references. Theoretical and Applied Neuroscience Laboratory, University of Victoria, STN CSC, PO Box , Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2, Canada.

Faculty of Health, York University, Keele St, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada. You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar.

designed the study, wrote the manuscript, and analyzed the data. was responsible for data collection, assisted with data analysis, and helped with manuscript preparation.

and O. directed the research, supported data analysis, and facilitated the writing of the final version of the manuscript. Correspondence to Katherine Boere.

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Reprints and permissions. Boere, K. Exercising is good for the brain but exercising outside is potentially better. Sci Rep 13 , Download citation. Received : 27 May Accepted : 09 December Published : 20 January Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:.

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Abstract It is well known that exercise increases cognitive function. Introduction It is well known that exercise generally enhances cognitive function 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , Results To investigate the impact of walking location, we conducted a two location: inside versus outside by two time: pre-test versus post-test fully repeated measures analysis of variance on reaction time, accuracy, and P amplitude.

Table 1 Summary statistical results. Full size table. Figure 1. Full size image. Figure 2. Figure 3. Discussion In the present study, we examined how the walking environment—indoors or outdoors—interacted with acute exercise to impact cognitive function, specifically the oddball task and P amplitude.

Methods Study approval All participants gave their informed written consent, approved by the Human Research Ethics Board at the University of Victoria HREB: BC Apparatus and procedure Participants completed a standard visual oddball task on an Apple iPad Apple Inc.

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Acknowledgements This research was supported by NSERC Discovery Grant RGPIN Krigolson Faculty of Health, York University, Keele St, Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada Gordon Binsted Authors Katherine Boere View author publications.

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Rights and permissions Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4. About this article. Cite this article Boere, K. Copy to clipboard. Comments By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. Make the list as challenging as possible for the greatest mental stimulation.

One small past study suggested that writing and organizing lists helped older adults recall word lists more effectively. Let the music play. Learn to play a musical instrument or join a choir. Learning new and complex skills is good for the aging brain, and a past review published in The Gerontologist suggested that musical activities like playing a musical instrument, singing in a choir, or taking piano lessons showed particular promise for healthy brain aging, though research is limited.

Do math in your head. Figure out problems without the aid of a pencil, paper, or computer. You can make this exercise more difficult — and athletic — by walking at the same time.

Take a cooking class. Learn how to cook a new cuisine. Cooking uses a number of senses — smell, touch, sight, and taste — that involve different parts of the brain. Learn a foreign language. The listening and hearing involved in learning a new language stimulates the brain.

Create word pictures. Visualize the spelling of a word in your head, and then try to think of other words that begin or end with the same two letters. Draw a map from memory.

After returning home from visiting a new place, try to draw a map of the area. Repeat this exercise each time you go somewhere new.

One past study , which focused on London taxi drivers who are expected to memorize the complex layout of the city , found that drivers who successfully memorized the city map showed permanent changes to brain structure and better cognitive function.

Challenge your taste buds. When eating, try to identify individual ingredients in your meal, including subtle herbs and spices. Refine your hand-eye coordination. Take up a new hobby that involves fine motor skills, and can help you keep your hand-eye coordination sharp.

This is a sample weekly schedule:. To accommodate your individual needs, simply adjust the schedule as needed; modifying the days of the week to plan for your favorite class or to give yourself rest when you need it.

While research shows that as little as 10 minutes of exercise can have a positive impact on brain function, long-term cognitive improvements are seen when consistent exercise is continued over time.

Glover shares that the key is to be consistent with any program you implement. While changes in the brain have been observed after shorter durations of exercise, these changes don't necessarily translate to improved cognitive functioning right away.

It takes consistency over time. It's always a good idea to consult your medical professional before beginning any new exercise plan, especially if you're currently managing a chronic health condition. So make a plan to have that discussion, then start building up your activity levels over time.

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