A novel form of "cross-training" brain exercises called "neurobics" is designed to generate new neural pathways by presenting the brain with unexpected sensory and emotional experiences. Some examples you might try:

• If you are right-handed, use your left hand to brush your teeth, comb your hair, shave, etc.

• When you wake up, try smelling something different from the usual coffee-such as vanilla, peppermint, or rosemary.

• Close your eyes while you shower to stimulate your tactile senses.

• Turn the photos on your desk or shelf upside down.

• Try reading a newspaper article upside down.

• If you frequently use an elevator, learn the Braille numbers for the various floors.

• Create a "sensory canister" containing aromatic herbs and spices like sage, thyme, or cloves. When you dial a phone number, take a whiff from the canister and see if you can remember the number.

• Break your routine by driving a different way to work, shopping in a different supermarket or eating in a different ethnic restaurant.

Rubin Manning, the creator of neurobics, claims these exercises are better than most "so-called brain exercises," because "each of our senses has its own separate areas of real estate in the brain, and neurobics is designed to exercise these areas by using all of your senses. In this way, the entire brain is being exercised, and the growth of neurotrophins is possible, which can strengthen synapses and dendrites." Once you get the idea, you can easily come up your own neurobics. For more information, check out Rubin's site: neurobics.com [1].

Just Relax, Dammit!
Take the time to sit quietly, close your eyes, breathe deeply using your diaphragm and think good thoughts. Learning to reduce the amount of stress in your life is also a great way to improve brain health. But, if you find meditation difficult, our technical editor, Andy Walker, may have found the solution. Check out his review of the emWave Personal Stress Reliever here [1].

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