Industry analyst careers depend on maintaining good knowledge bases, great clients, and sharp wits. It’s not that difficult to maintain repositories and clientele, but what about the wits? Can we expect results from a brain fitness and exercise regimen?
Apparently, the answer is yes.
A whitepaper by SharpBrains — based on interviews with 11 neuroscientists, psychologists and other experts — debunks 10 brain fitness myths. You can obtain the complete whitepaper by registering for the SharpBrains newletter.
My top picks from the whitepaper summary:
Myth: It’s all in our genes.
Reality: A big component of our lifelong brain health and development depends on what we do with our brains. Our own actions, not only our genes, influence our lives to a large extent.
Myth: We need to buy expensive computer-based programs to improve our brains.
Reality: Every time we learn a new skill, concept or fact, we change the physical composition of our brains. Lifelong learning means lifelong neuroplasticity.
Myth: On-the-job training is the only way to train one’s mind.
Reality: Computer-based programs can be more effective at developing specific “mental muscles.”
Myth: Brain exercise is only for seniors. And, only about memory.
Reality: People of all ages can benefit from a variety of regular brain exercises. For active professionals, managing stress and emotions is often a good first step.
Myth: This all sounds too soft to be of real value to business people.
Reality: There is nothing soft about the hard science-based training of specific cognitive and emotional skills.
Myth: Videogames are always a waste of time.
Reality: Scientifically designed, computer-based programs can be a good vehicle for training specific skills. For example, it has been shown that short term memory can be expanded by such programs. Adults in Japan have started to play brain-related video games more, and SharpBrains is starting to see the same trend among adults in the U.S. and Europe.
Now, where’d I put that Sudoku book…
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