Mental Jogging

All introductory courses cover the brain and its miraculous workings during the first week or so of class, and one of the things that’s always included in the discussions is the nervous system. Just how do messages get conveyed to and from the brain? What about synapses within the brain itself? How can we keep those synapses in good working order?

I came across some “neurobic” exercises proposed by Lawrence Katz, Duke University neurobiologist, and Manning Rubin in The Owner’s Manual to the Brain (love that book!). Each exercise is designed to form new associations among previously unassociated parts of the brain and bring new resources to a person’s consciousness. This “mental jogging” results in the formation of new synapses and the rejuvenation of already established synapses. I’m all for that. What about you? Which of the following seems like a “doable” exercise in your life? Can you think of other suggestions?

Make different smells available from morning to night.
Occasionally use your unaccustomed hand to brush your teeth.
Switch what you normallly wear (pins, wristwatch, pocket contents, hair part, etc.) on the left side to the right side and vice versa.
Take a different route to a frequent destination, such as work.
Try picking out the right coins (and other objects) without looking.
Turn things literally upside down, such as a picture in your office.
Chat with people whom you (and others) tend to overlook (e.g., store clerks).
If you’re not an artist, try painting or drawing a picture. If you are an artist, try doing it with your feet.
Try searching for food in the wild.
If you exercise indoors, try switching occasionally to outdoors and vice versa.
Master some new piece of technology from time to time. This could range from something as simple as a new wine bottle opener to a digital camera.
Try eating and preparing ethnic foods you’ve never experienced.
Acquire a new hobby.