On first thoughts you probably might agree Homeland Security and brain health do indeed make for an odd couple. However, all is not what it seems for, in at least one major aspect, they have much in common. Read more…
Nanoparticles hold enormous potential to change many aspects of our existence… some for the better, some for the worse. So what are nanoparticles; where do they come from; what have they got to do with brain health; and why have I referred to them as saints or sinners? Read more…
Tracking and catching or hitting objects are the key parts of many ball games as well as sports like martial arts and boxing. Such activities engage faculties like attention, focus, coordination, judgement, movement and visual acuity and so have potential to activate several parts of the brain. Read more…
What if I told you that I can get a fantastic Valentine’s card any year I choose. In fact, I can guarantee it!
So, this Valentine’s Day while you are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the mailman, I’ll be reading a beautiful card telling me how wonderful I am. Read more…
In Part 1 we looked at how we might design our brain using music and language. If you found that a bit on the heavy side you may find these methods more appealing Read more…
In this short series we’re going to look at how you can design your own brain. I bet you didn’t think you could do that, did you?
Well, you can… and why shouldn’t you. I mean we have designer clothes, designer houses, designer this… designer that, so why shouldn’t you have a designer brain too. Read more…
Okay, so it’s a dreadful title… but I just couldn’t resist it! As you’ve probably worked out this post is about Metaphysics and its application in everyday life. Please don’t jump to the conclusion that it means a whole lot of spiritual stuff. It doesn’t!
Metaphysics opens up a whole new way of thinking and reveals the extent of the control you actually have over the reality you create for yourself. It’s both exciting and frightening because it puts you in control of your life… which some might find scary! Read more…
I actually set out to write a post looking at Swine Flu ‘propaganda’ as an example of where we need to exercise critical thinking. However, my thoughts kept drifting to some research I read recently on the artificial stimulation of the immune system to recognise cancer cells. Read more…
When I’m struggling to explain things related to the workings of the body and mind I sometimes find it helpful to take a trip back to early-man (not literally as I don’t have Dr Who’s TARDIS) as it gives me a sense of where we were and where we now are.
In this post I want to look at the development of one’s personal ‘map of reality’ and how it can become distorted. By ‘map of reality’ I mean how an individual interprets the world around her/him, who they believe they are, how they think they fit into the world and where they believe they are going. Read more…
Question: How do you make politicians, scientists, the media and advertising executives happy? Answer: Stop thinking. Hey, that’s easy… we already have! Read more…
If we make decisions by analysing and processing sounds, sights and other sensory input such as touch does that mean someone without those faculties cannot make decisions? Read more…
2010 has been designated the International Year of the Brain. .Well, it hasn’t officially so I’ve had to do it myself.
And that’s what you’ll have to do. I don’t mean designate the year but rather dedicate 2010 and the years thereafter to looking after your brain. Read more…
There are Greenhouse Gasses and there’s Air Pollution. The most famous of the Greenhouse Gasses is undoubtedly Carbon Dioxide (CO2). CO2 is the fifth most abundant naturally occurring gas in the atmosphere and is essential for life on earth. A naturally occurring gas can’t be a pollutant. On the other hand, air pollution the constituents of which include: carbon monoxide; nitric oxide; sulphur dioxide; particulate matter and ozone… kills people. Read more…
Have you heard the expression “seeing red”? If so, what do you think it means?
Are you thinking that “seeing red” indicates anger? In part you’re right. But before we ponder further, we ought to first look at how we see colours. Read more…
In caveman (cave person?) days physical survival no doubt topped our list of priorities. We would sense or observe danger and decide how to act to stay alive.
So let’s call that basic multi-tasking. There were two tasks involved: observation (sensory) and reaction (motor). Read more…
Imagine if you could beat belly bulge and build your brain at the same time simply by changing something you already do. Sounds pretty good eh! Read more…
When it comes to keeping your brain fit and healthy you need to become a big baby. Now I don’t mean you become a sook… what I mean is that you can rewire your brain using the some of the techniques that babies use to build their brain. Read more…
Imagine receiving huge dividends year after year for life…
How would you feel if you could do that?
And what if those dividends were 100% tax-free…
Wouldn’t that be great! Read more…
At the end of an earlier post “More S-X Please – It’s A No-Brainer” I indicated that I would take a look at some of the neurochemicals that are released as a result of circulating sexual energy around the body.
I had in mind discussing the role played in memory formation and learning by neurochemicals, such as serotonin, vasopressin, dopamine and others… but you know what – it doesn’t really matter!. Read more…
Research continues on the brain’s ability to repair itself. In part, the research involves studying the working or mechanism of the nerve cells (neurons) found within the brain. This has led to a discovery that the nerve cells have the capability to produce an anti-inflammatory molecule that aids the brain in repairing itself. Read more…
Sexual energy has different definitions. In fact, there are as many definitions as there are beliefs. It has religious, physiological and psychological connotations. Some theories define sexual energy as bioelectric energy, the electric phenomena in animals or plants, while others define it as the vital life force. Read more…
Literally speaking, the colour of a preserved brain appears as grey. This is because the extensive outer layer of the brain (the cerebral cortex) is grey. However, below the grey matter there is what’s known as white matter. The classification comes from their actual colour as seen by the naked eye. Read more…
Your sense of smell plays an important part in your life. It has long been known that there is a powerful link between the sense of smell and emotions. Think about it for a moment: perhaps the aroma of a cake baking recalls happy memories of grandma’s kitchen – lovely or maybe the smell of paint makes you feel sick – not so lovely! Read more…
It is a well known fact that our brain is divided into two parts. In layman’s terms we refer to it as the left brain and the right brain. Technically, the brain is divided into two distinctly separate cerebral hemispheres—much like the way earth is divided into the northern and the southern hemispheres.
Both sides look alike, but both have their own jobs to do. They function side-by-side or laterally. However, lateral working is different for different people and for specific functions. Read more…
Stop interfering!
I hope by now that you have grasped the very simple but profound concept that the brain already knows exactly how to take care of itself for life…. if only we would let it. But we don’t and very successfully manage to interfere with its natural working by imposing on it all sorts of conditions that it finds most unwelcome. Here I’m referring to actions like undue stress, drugs, poor diet, sleep deprivation, wasteful sexual practices, lack of exercise… and so on.
Look here you brain!
My position is that any program that aims to keep the brain young has to foster its health by providing the ‘right’ conditions for it to look after itself. It’s a hands-off approach that says to the brain – “Look, I’ve put in place the conditions for you to re-engineer yourself and stay young for years to come so go for it.” It seems such a simple natural strategy that one can only speculate as to why it’s been kept secret for so long. Read more…
