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Brain Plasticity Exercises (A complete guide)

By OptimistMinds
Page last updated: 08/30/2022 | Next review date: 08/30/2024

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The Optimistminds editorial team is made up of psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health professionals. Each article is written by a team member with exposure to and experience in the subject matter.  The article then gets reviewed by a more senior editorial member. This is someone with extensive knowledge of the subject matter and highly cited published material.


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This blog mentions some of the most effective brain plasticity exercises.

Before we move on to brain plasticity exercise let’s have a deeper look into the meaning of brian plasticity, also referred to as neuroplasticity.

What is the Meaning of Neuroplasticity?

Brain plasticity describes the capacity to adjust to the brain. Or, as Dr. Campbell says: It applies to the physiological changes that arise in the brain as a result of our experiences with our surroundings.

The links between the cells in our brains reorganize in response to our evolving needs from the time the brain starts to grow in utero until the day we die.

This complex cycle helps one to learn from various experiences and to adapt them “

Our brains are truly remarkable; unlike computers that are designed to specifications and regularly get software upgrades, in addition to software upgrades, our brains will actually get hardware updates.

According to our experiences, various pathways form and fall dormant, are formed, and are discarded.

When we learn stuff we introduce additional neuronal connections. We rewire our brains to adapt to new situations.

This is happening on a regular basis but we should also promote and stimulate it.

7 Benefits Neuroplasticity Has on the Brain

Based on the research we’ve just discussed, there are lots of ways the brain profits from neuroplasticity.

In addition to the above enhancements and advantages, here are some of the other ways the brain benefits from brain adjustment: 

  1. Healing from brain incidents such as strokes;
  2. Resuscitation from brain damage; 
  3. Ability to reconfigure functions in the brain (e.g., if harm is done to an area that regulates one sense, other areas may be able to take the slack); 
  4. Abandoning feature in one area can improve functions in other areas ( for example, if one sense is damaged, the others may increase);
  5. Wide range of enhanced cognitive abilities;
  6. More effective learning.A huge spectrum of augmented cognitive capabilities; 
  7. More efficient learning.

Steps to Increase Brain Plasticity

The following are some steps to increase brain plasticity: 

  1. Find precision
  2. Set meaningful targets 
  3. Take a micro-step 
  4. Adopt the mentality of growth 
  5. Exercise mindfulness 
  6. Select your circle of influence carefully 
  7. Prioritize the routine exercise 
  8. Stop procrastination 
  9. Raise the standards 

Brain Plasticity Exercises

The following are some effective exercises to enhance brain plasticity:

1. Aerobic Exercises

A 60-minute strenuous exercise gives better results, but if you’re not an exercise enthusiast, taking a leisurely stroll through the park will light up different parts of your brain and help with brain plasticity.

2. Reading a Good Book

If you hate resting down and taking the time to read some books or magazines, that’s great because doing things that you don’t like and are various stimulates your neurons to the top speed.

3. Playing Games

It can be a brain challenge to try figuring out all the winning strategies to become a leader in a board game.

However, they ‘re really going to get the old brain juices flowing.

4. Anything Out of the Ordinary

Doing something from the usual will stimulate the brain plasticity that you’re looking for.

Things are as simple as brushing your teeth with the opposite hand. If you start brushing your right-hand side with the left or the vis-versa. 

The learning is assumed to be neuro-protective.

Through neuroplasticity, learning increases the link between nerve cells, increases cellular metabolism, and stimulates the rate of the nerve growth factor, a substance made by the body to help repair and maintain the neurons.

5. Smile

Smiling begins your day off with a BANG and can give your brain cells a surge anywhere.

It’s like taking shots of super juice to counteract the stress, worry, and anxieties of the day. 

In the morning, when you open your big, beautiful, sexy eyes, you put a smile on your face from ear to ear.

This will spark your brain to release the feeling-good neurotransmitter dopamine.

Dopamine is classed as a happy neuroscientific chemical that has the ability to create a state of euphoria for your entire body in a matter of seconds.

It immediately overcomes the feeling of stress, worry, and frustration.

The great thing is that dopamine works every single time, and it doesn’t matter if the smile is sincere or fictitious, because the brain can’t tell the difference.

The negative part is the statistics show that adults-only put a smile on their face 4 times a day on estimate compared to a child who smiles 400 times a day on average.

If you want to rewire your brain to happiness and success while defusing stress, worry, and frustration in your daily life, it may be good to consider following the illustrations of our children.

6. Learning New Skills

Whether it’s learning a new language or a type of dance, learning something new improves brain plasticity.

The brain has been strengthened by learning and practicing a new language. You can also learn musical instruments or art skills. 

The brain benefits from learning how your body benefits from the activity.

One study found that “the brains of successful learners had undergone significant changes — the brain system was better integrated.”

But the exercise itself is helpful to the brain as well. Cardiovascular workouts enhance the brain’s supply of oxygen and increase brain volume.

The Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise per week.

7. Find a Strong Purpose for What You’re Planning to Learn

Dr. Michael Merzenich, writer of Soft-Soft-Wired: How the New Science of Neuroplasticity Can Alter Your Life says that brain change is likely to be more important if you are inspired and forewarned.

If you find a good reason to learn, you ‘re going to try harder and focus more on the task. This has been found to improve neuroplasticity.

8. Reduce Stress

Stress is a silent enemy, and it also reduces brain plasticity. If you can’t lower your life’s causes of stress, you can alter how you react to it.

An excellent way to relax is to surround yourself with nature or to travel. Meditation is another way to control your reactions to stress.

Brain lateralization, another type of method is used to specialize the functioning of each hemisphere of the brain.

The following is a list of some good books on brain plasticity. These books are a great source of increasing knowledge about neuroplasticity.

Just click the book you wish to study and you will be redirected to the page form where you can access it.

How can I improve my brain plasticity?

Brian plasticity can be increased by:

  • Get adequate sleep 
  • Start learning new skills, and keeping traveling
  • Cut down on work
  • Find a strong objective for the learning you plan to do. … 
  • Write a novel

How does exercise help brain plasticity?

Exercise often facilitates brain plasticity in other essential cortical areas of the brain by promoting the development of new links between cells.

UCLA work has also found that exercise has improved growth factors in the brain that make it harder for the brain to establish new synaptic links.

What is an example of brain plasticity?

Neuroplasticity-or brain plasticity-is the brain’s capacity to change or re-wire the ties.

For example, there is a brain area devoted to the right-arm movement. Damage to this section of the brain can hinder right arm function.

Does exercise increase neuroplasticity?

Exercise increases the quantity of gray matter (actual neurons) and white matter (neuron-connections) in the brain.

Physical exercise activates chemical processes that stimulate neuroplasticity through the greater blood supply to the brain – the formation of new neuronal and even neuronal connections themselves.

Can I rewire my brain?

The formation of new neurons could transform your brain and realign it.

Neural Darwinism, or “neural pruning,” is one of the key aspects of neural plasticity, meaning that any neuron that is not ‘fired-and-wired’ together into a network is likely to be extinguished.

Which exercise is best for the brain?

Aerobic activity, such as biking and swimming, is better for the wellbeing of the brain.

That is because it increases the heart rate of a person, “which means that the body pumps more blood into the brain,” Okonkwo says.

But strength training, such as weight lifting, can also be beneficial for the brain by increasing heart rate. 

This blog mentioned some brain plasticity exercises that would help you learn ways in which you can increase your neuroplasticity.

If you have any questions or queries regarding this blog, let us know through your comments in the comments section. We will be glad to assist you.

References 

What is Neuroplasticity? A Psychologist Explains [+14 Exercises] by Courtney E. Ackerman (2020)

A 9-Step Guide to Increase Your Neuroplasticity and Growth …

5 Neuroplasticity Exercises the Top 3% of the Happy and …

How to Improve your Neuroplasticity – Thrive Global

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