Session number: 12 Average n-back: 5.05 I am glad my average N has increased from 4.85 to 5.05! I felt like N=5 was beyond me, but surprisingly, I stayed at N=5 for almost my entire session today. It feels great to think that neurogenesis really seems to be taking place in my brain. MindSparke Brain [...]

While we generally accept and understand that our life experiences help shape who we are, the fields of psychology and neuroscience have til now take rather separate paths in explaining how and why this happens. But at a recent conference in New York, Francois Ansermet, a psychoanalyst from Geneva university, and Pierre Magistretti, a neuroscientist [...]

In novel working memory research, scientists from the University of Pittsburgh used neural cultures from rats’ brains to create a functioning neural network in the laboratory. With just 40 to 60 neurons the researchers were surprised to find that the ad hoc neural network had a working memory span of up to 12 seconds. Atop [...]

We’ve reported before on the link between increased neurogenesis and a reduction in the symptoms of depression. Physical exercise, brain training with effective brain fitness software and antidepressants all increase neurogenesis and alleviate depression. Now, British scientists have apparently discovered just how antidepressants stimulate the production of new brain cells. While other brain fitness studies [...]

New brain fitness research by a team at Columbia University isolates neurogenesis as a factor in improved pattern separation (in mice). At first glance the report of this brain fitness research seemed like old news. The researchers had boosted neurogenesis and shown improved pattern separation (pattern separation is the brain function that enables us to [...]

An intriguing new brain fitness study published by researchers from the University of Texas shows that brain injury stimulates neurogenesis (new brain cell growth) and that the new brain cells aid in recovering learning and memory functions, thereby restoring brain fitness. The brain then, it turns out, has mechanisms for self-repair. Since the late 1990s [...]

A new brain fitness study suggests that you should run not walk to the fertility clinic. If you do, you may find that you can cancel your appointment. Neuroscientists from Hong Kong have linked neurogenesis in the brain’s subventricular zone to reproductive health and wellness. Brain fitness research findings indicate that reproductive activity and triggers, [...]

Various brain fitness studies have shown that aerobic exercise stimulates neurogenesis. So researchers from Princeton were surprised recently to discover that rats set to a brain fitness training regime with regular treadmill exercise showed no detectable neurogenesis. What gave?

Recent research suggests that resistance training or weight training can activate neurogenesis, indicating that it could be a good method of brain fitness training. In one study resistance training and aerobic exercise improved spatial memory and activated neurogenesis. And in a similar study resistance training acted as brain training, activating neurogenesis in rat brains. Human studies support of the hypothesis that resistance training in the form of weight lifting or loaded resistance exercise can improve brain function.

In addition to brain training and aerobic exercise, diet is critical to brain fitness: The 10 best brain fitness foods are Beets, Sage, Beef, Sardines, Egg Yolks, Oats, Lentils, Flaxseed, Walnuts, and Vegetables.