Brain Food

SIX MYTHS ABOUT THE BRAIN

by Sandra Aamodt and Sam Wang

People get many ideas about how their brains work from entertainment or folk wisdom. But modern neuroscience has proved many of these ideas to be wrong. The facts are more fun - and more useful.

Myth 1: You only use 10 percent of your brain.
Truth: You use all of your brain. The 10-percent myth became popular with the self-help teachings of Dale Carnegie, as a way of helping people think about how to realize their own potential. But you need your whole brain, which is why strokes can be so devastating.

Myth 2: Playing classical music to an infant can make the child smarter.
Truth: The "Mozart myth" comes from a study that was done on college students, which showed a shortterm effect that was gone in half an hour. Though babies don't have the wiring to process all the complexity in classical music, they are mesmerized by it, which might be why they seem to like "baby videos" like Baby Einstein. However, a recent study showed that an hour a day of watching Baby Einstein was associated with slower acquisition of new words! Much better is for your child to learn a musical instrument. This activity involves active learning and is associated with increased cognitive achievement.

Myth 3: Drinking alcoholic beverages kills brain cells.
Truth: In very heavy amounts, drinking for years does cause brain shrinkage. But this shrinkage is usually reversible. Furthermore, the brain cells don't die - they shrink individually. So although drinking can be bad for your brain, in moderation it's safe. In fact, drinking red wine can even be protective, probably in part by reducing the risk of stroke. The safe amount is three glasses a day for men, and two for women - a total of one bottle per couple.

Myth 4: Games like Sudoku and Brain Age keep your brain young.
Truth: It is great to be mentally engaged, and puzzles can help you get good at a specific skill, like memorizing grocery lists or hand-eye coordination. But most evidence suggests that practicing a task only helps you get better at that particular task. Far better for mental function is physical exercise. Regular fitness training is especially effective in the elderly, who may suffer from gradual problems with "executive function," including planning ahead and abstract thinking.

Myth 5: In a noisy place, you can hear better on your cell phone by covering your other ear.
Truth: You can get a far better result by covering the mouthpiece while you are listening. This is because your phone feeds back all the room noise into the earpiece. Your brain is very good at separating left-ear sounds from right-ear sounds. By covering the mouthpiece, you create a situation that makes it easy for your brain to hear what's coming over the phone.

Myth 6: Vaccines cause autism.
Truth: Concerned parents of autistic children are drawn to this idea because during child development, the first symptoms appear around the time that children receive vaccinations. But in several countries, removing the additive to vaccines that is said to cause autism, thimerosal, has had no effect on rates of autism. Autism is a partially hereditary disease, and is caused by the inheritance of multiple "bad" genes. However, the identity of those genes is not yet known.

Article Source: http://www.welcometoyourbrain.com/

ImageSource:http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/welcome/features/20071017_Medicine_whitematter/Photos/head_and_brain.jpg

Interview with Barbara Roberts, Author of 'THE VINEYARD ON MULBERRY STREET'

Barbara Marolla Roberts, born in New York City, is a graduate of Skidmore College where she majored in art. She taught elementary school and was an executive recruiter before working for Pace University in Westchester, New York, first as the Assistant Director of Graduate Admission and currently as the Graduate Program Coordinator of the Master’s in Counseling Program. She resides in Putnam County, New York, with her husband. Click here to purchase her book.

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Six Questions for Barbara Roberts

Why and how did you go about publishing your first novel, The Vineyard on Mulberry Street?

My first novel was a story I felt needed telling for many reasons. I almost felt it was a mission and once I started writing it seriously and consistently, I didn’t stop; making many sacrifices until it was finished. But I loved every moment of it.

Was self-publishing your first option?

Self-publishing was not my first option, but after reviewing other options, self-publishing proved to be the most expedient way to go and less complicated than the others.


As an established author, what are the hardships you still encounter as a writer?

The biggest hardship as a writer is finding the time to write. I can only write in the mornings when it’s quiet and I have no distractions. It is very solitary but immensely fulfilling.

Can you say that the character, Catherine, reflects who you personally are: strong independent and enigmatic?

The character, Catherine, is based on my mother – strong, independent and enigmatic. I, too, am strong and independent, but not enigmatic. I am not as compelling or interesting a person as Catherine is.

What does your book have that will give readers a different turn from the usual forbidden love stories?

The moral code in America was stricter in the 1940’s and 1950’s. To deviate from the established norm, “Backstreet” love was not viewed at kindly. There was a great deal of stigma attached to non-conventional lives. I want the readers to know Catherine as a person, understand her dilemma and have compassion for her.

When Kirkus referred to her as “brave and loyal” it warmed my heart. That is exactly what I wanted to portray.

What is your view on writers who are afraid to take the self-publishing route?

I would recommend writers to take the self-publishing route, especially with Xlibris. My first contact at Xlibris was Cheryl Gratz, who was professional and helpful. She made the first step easy, and the following steps easier than one would think. The transition from one phase to another was not complicated.