Volume 2 Issue 22
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL NEWSPAPER
“You’re going to reach the top with us.” 15 March 2005
Increasing Brainpower B
rainpower can be defined as intellectual ability combined with intelligence, creativity, and learning ability. The brain is made of living tissues that can restructure itself, and is composed of billions of neurons with the same capability. Hence, it is infinitely more complex t h a n a c o m p u t e r. T h e functions of brainpower include learning, intuition, mental clarity, creativity, focus and concentration, and intelligence. Increasing brainpower We can improve our brain's memory, creativity, and intelligence by our own conscious effort and free will. Even though our brain is made of ner ve tissues, it can grow if it is used, just like a muscle. Scientists are constantly amazed at its plasticity the ability to grow. Even for ZAMAN NEWSPAPER Zaman, Publisher Serap Sinik, Editor-in Chief Zulfi Erken, Editor at Large
Prepared by 11- F Zaman International School Newspaper dedicated to educating students and training journalists. Published 2 times a month in Zaman International School. Copyright 2003 by the Zaman International School. All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced in print or electronically without the consent of The Zaman International School.
people over 80 years old, significant life-quality improvements can be achieved through intellectual activity. Researchers at the University of California-Los Angeles studied the brains of 20 dead people. After examining the dendrites (tree-like communicating arms between muscles), they discovered that their length i n c r e a s e d proportionally with a person's education and lifestyle. Those with a college education and a mentally active lifestyle had longer dendrites
than those with less education and an intellectually inactive lifestyle. Animal studies seem to confirm the same result. For example, rats exposed to maze learning show an increase in dendrite growth and enhanced problem-solving ability. They form new synapses between neurons, which facilitates further learning. When they are moved to dull, non-challenging environments, dendritic material decreases and synapses regress. Neurons can grow and change throughout one's life. French philosopher and mathematician Rene Descartes (1596-1650) once said: “It is not enough to have a good mind. The main thing is to use it well.”(1) In this ever-changing information society, successful adaptation depends on expanding our minds through learning and creativity. Knowledge helps us advance to happiness, because happiness usually is tied to less stress (in our career or daily life), gives us greater travel and leisure opportunities, more autonomy … and even more money. Love grows in a relaxed and happy atmosphere, so even emotional well-being depends on improving our brainpower. By stimulating our brain more intensively, a curious thing happens: The inter-connections between neurons increase by developing new dendrites. These surplus connections make our brain work better, improve our memor y, and protect us against diseases like Alzheimer's by providing alternative connections. Learning and brainpower An increased sense of selfconfidence and awareness