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I’ve often heard that learning new skills and taking on challenging tasks can boost brain health as we age – a fact I’ve kept in mind as I’ve taken up knitting, playing the piano, cookie decorating and teaching yoga over the past decade. But I’ve never fully understood why doing stimulating tasks – at least up to a point – is so good for the brain.
So when Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, a neurologist and sleep expert from the University of Pittsburgh, pitched a story on how you can train your brain much like you can strength-train your muscles, I knew it would be a great service to readers.
Fong-Isariyawongse breaks down the recent science that explains why putting yourself in new environments and engaging in stimulating activities helps the brain build new connections to the point that enhanced brain volume and neural connections can be observed on brain scans.
“Novelty pushes the brain to adapt, forcing it to pay attention, learn and problem-solve in new ways,” she writes. “Neuroplasticity thrives when the brain is nudged just beyond its comfort zone.”
But Fong-Isariyawongse also stresses the critical importance of rest, including taking breaks from taxing activities. Just like overdoing it with strength training can cause muscle strain, the brain needs a steady supply of healthy sleep and restorative rest to keep growing, forming connections and working efficiently.
One last thing: Our executive editor, Beth Daley, will be on a panel regarding open-access publishing on Thursday, Jan. 29, at 1:30 p.m. ET. The session, titled Beyond The Ivory Tower: The Real World Importance of Open Access Today, comes as the relevance of taxpayer-funded research faces increasing scrutiny. The panel will explore if and how open access strengthens the global information environment. Does it matter that we make scholarly research open to those beyond academia? Hosted by the Open Access Scholarly Publishing Association (OASPA), registration is free and open to a global audience. We encourage you to join the conversation with your own views and questions. Register here.
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