mind & body
Flex
Your
Cortex
7 Secrets to
Turbocharge
Your Brain
by Sandra Bond Chapman, Ph.D.
Truly, some of the most fascinating scientific discoveries today
have to do with the world within us: our brains. With all due
respect to Star Trek, outer space is not the only “final frontier.”
Understanding and maximizing the potential of the human
brain is also an important — and still largely uncharted — frontier of discovery.
Consider that the brain is the most powerful, most staggeringly
complex electro-biochemical machine ever created. Above and
behind our eyes are 100 billion neurons in a small calcium shell,
laced with organic pumps, channels and switches. Until
recently, this complicated organ was thought to be static and
unchangeable. Far from it.
Our research shows that the brain is dynamic, adaptable, flexible, and repairable. This knowledge, along with a strong commitment to applying what we have learned, has the potential to
dramatically improve the mental capacity of all Americans,
regardless of age, even those who have experienced brain illness
or injury. Just like a mentally-challenged young man who
inspired me to focus my attention and efforts on the incredible
potential of the human mind. He could not speak or communicate, but yet he was able to comprehend and problem solve in a
way that defied his diagnosis.
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My 30+ year career in brain science and at the Center for
BrainHealth that I founded at The University of Texas at Dallas
has led to the development of seven scientifically validated
secrets anyone can implement to improve brain performance.
They are secrets because they challenge conventional wisdom
and today’s societal pressures.
You might be surprised at how much of the 7-Secret advice is
counter to how people live and work. In truth, the frenetic, distracted way we live in 21st century America is not conducive to
good brain health or performance.
While the descriptions below are tailored to working-age adults,
7-Secret Thinking is also highly beneficial to others. Teens
growing up in poverty or affluence, healthy older adults and
those experiencing cognitive decline, and those who have sustained a traumatic brain injury are all benefiting by engaging in
7-Secret Thinking.
Secret 1: Start single tasking. For those who proudly identify as multitaskers, understand that your brain is not built to
perform two tasks at the same time — instead, it must switch
quickly from task to unrelated task. Multitasking tires the brain
and activates stress hormones. Giving your full attention to the
project at hand will increase accuracy, innovation and speed.