Exercise Your Brain's CPU

by Jennifer Goddard

Concerned about how many brain cells you’ve killed? Don’t be, you are constantly regenerating them.

Around a decade ago, researchers put an end to the myth that we were born with a set number of brain cells. More recent discoveries show exercise is the best way to improve your creativity, thinking and memory, all vital elements of innovation.

Why? Deep inside your brain is the Hippocampus. Shaped like a seahorse and operating like an Intel chip, the hippocampus grows the more you exercise it.

Alone or in tandem, physical and mental exercises improve your brain’s performance and help delay the onset of dementia.

• High intensity exercises are better than low intensity
• Combining resistance and aerobic training gives better results
• Sessions more than 30 minutes are better than shorter
• Exercising for 30 minutes or more before a test will increase your score
• The daily sudoku, crossword or brainstorming session gives your brain a great workout

P.S. Why is memory the basis for innovation? If you can remember something that you saw, read, or discussed six days, six months or six years ago and apply it to the situation now, you will have more creative ideas and innovative solutions.