Give Your Brain A Boost . . . With A Book April 25, 2014
Posted by nrhatch in Books & Movies, Health & Wellness, Meditation.comments closed
Last week, Andra Watkins (The Accidental Cootchie Mama) shared links to two research studies done to evaluate the impact of reading on brain function:
* Brain Function Boosted After Reading A Novel
This study revealed increased brain activity measured in the MRI’s of 21 college students during and after reading the novel Pompeii.
While this is promising news for book lovers, I wish the study had used control groups so we could compare results and determine whether reading novels has a more pronounced effect on the brain than: watching movies, playing video games, meditating, dining out, texting, yoga, drinking wine, eating chocolate, walking, parasailing, riding a bike, talking to a close friend, having sex, etc.
Since everyone read the same novel, it’s hard to conclude, based on this study alone, that novel reading is better for the brain than other activities, such as reading poetry, attending a concert, watching a ballet, or “getting jiggy with it” by going ballroom dancing.
But reading definitely woke up a few neurons.
* How Reading Lights Up Your Mind
Another article with anecdotal evidence about the value of reading (and meditation) for brain health.
Here’s what the article had to say about meditation:
“Meditation has long been studied to better understand how sustaining attention and focus affects the brain. Studies on mindfulness meditation, for example, show that parts of the brain associated with positive mood are activated with the practice of focusing attention.”
I have found this to be true. Plus the sustained focus and attention carries over in all areas of life. Instead of re-acting to events (using stale beliefs about past experiences), we more mindfully choose how to spend our days.
Perhaps by curling up with a good book.
And a cup of coffee.
Aah . . . that’s better!
Related: Fight Brain Drain & Set Your Mind On Fire (Andra) * Your Brain On Jane (NPR) * Cross Train Your Brain
Spirit Lights The Way 