We know so much more about the brain now that it behooves us to take special care of this organ, curled up like a labyrinth in our cranium. This is especially true of the brains of children.
The fact that brains are neuroplastic and malleable, in fact, susceptible to our actions and experiences means that
a) they can generate new neurons in response to new experiences;
b)they can produce new circuitry and wiring that over-ride old, unhealthy ones and
c) we have more control over our brains and our behavior than was previously thought.
What this means is that engaging in certain activities or experiences can help children develop optimum brain functioning.
Here is a partial list of beneficial activities.
a) Aerobic Activity conditions the brain. Running for 20-30 minutes a day has been shown to increase the brain's capacity to generate new neurons. Students at a high school in Chicago participated in a weekly running regimen coordinated by their physical education teachers. Not only did the emotional tone of the school improve, but the students aced an international Math and Science Test, outscoring the rest of the schools in the US and the world.
b) Sustained, complex, focus-intensive exercise like martial arts and gymnastics (165) helps develop the prefrontal cortex, home of the working memory and self control. ADHD boys, aged 8-11, involved in martial arts training have shown dramatic improvement in behavior and concentration.
c)Penmanship develops executive motor skills. The simple act of writing (or even doodling) develops the area in the brain associated with self control, focus and attention. Can the reduction of penmanship classes in school be partially responsible for the recent burst of hyperactivity in school age children?
These activities must be sustained over a period of time. In the case of running and exercise, it is a good idea to get our children and grandchildren to be so involved that they develop a lifelong pursuit of active living. The positive effects of exercise on brain functioning are active as long as we stay active. Inactivity is an experience that can over-ride the neurons exercise has generated in the brain.
Source: Ratey, John J. Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain. New York: Little, Brown and Company,2008.
The fact that brains are neuroplastic and malleable, in fact, susceptible to our actions and experiences means that
a) they can generate new neurons in response to new experiences;
b)they can produce new circuitry and wiring that over-ride old, unhealthy ones and
c) we have more control over our brains and our behavior than was previously thought.
What this means is that engaging in certain activities or experiences can help children develop optimum brain functioning.
Here is a partial list of beneficial activities.
a) Aerobic Activity conditions the brain. Running for 20-30 minutes a day has been shown to increase the brain's capacity to generate new neurons. Students at a high school in Chicago participated in a weekly running regimen coordinated by their physical education teachers. Not only did the emotional tone of the school improve, but the students aced an international Math and Science Test, outscoring the rest of the schools in the US and the world.
b) Sustained, complex, focus-intensive exercise like martial arts and gymnastics (165) helps develop the prefrontal cortex, home of the working memory and self control. ADHD boys, aged 8-11, involved in martial arts training have shown dramatic improvement in behavior and concentration.
c)Penmanship develops executive motor skills. The simple act of writing (or even doodling) develops the area in the brain associated with self control, focus and attention. Can the reduction of penmanship classes in school be partially responsible for the recent burst of hyperactivity in school age children?
These activities must be sustained over a period of time. In the case of running and exercise, it is a good idea to get our children and grandchildren to be so involved that they develop a lifelong pursuit of active living. The positive effects of exercise on brain functioning are active as long as we stay active. Inactivity is an experience that can over-ride the neurons exercise has generated in the brain.
Source: Ratey, John J. Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain. New York: Little, Brown and Company,2008.
No comments:
Post a Comment