The old adage, “Use it or lose it,” is particularly applicable in matters of the human brain. According to a recent Peter Coyote-narrated PBS documentary on ”Brain Function,” the human brain has “plasticity,” which, in lay terms, means that it provides us with increased cognitive ability to learn new things. The more new things we choose to learn over the years, the more our brain is challenged to keep up with our needs.

On the other hand, If we limit ourselves to tasks and routines that are tried and familiar, we run the risk of losing the ability to call upon those all-important synapse connections when we need them. Your comfort zone, then, is a trap in terms of brain function. If your objective is a healthy and youthful brain, you must continue to harness brain plasticity on an ongoing basis. That means constantly seeking out new and unfamiliar tasks to master. The more you challenge your brain, the more it will reward you with growth. This does not mean that you must stop playing golf if you love it, or knitting, or any of those things you’ve learned to do well in your life and in which you take pleasure. But it does mean that the more time you spend testing your brain with challenges it never ran up against before, the more it will thank you with an enduring ability to serve you. 

Change can only take place when the brain is engaged and in the mood. That means that whatever you do, pay close attention to every detail. “Neurons that fire together, wire together,” is how it was expressed so cleverly and succinctly on the PBS show.

It’s all about paying attention and concentrating on what you do. The more you focus on details, the more they will integrate into your memory bank and reward you whenever you call upon them. 

Some suggestions for getting you started on a brain fitness regimen: one hour of aerobic exercise five days a week (okay, 20 minutes of moderate walking is a good way to start); crossword puzzles (unless you are already a master); a new language (you might listen to tapes on your iPod while you’re walking); memory tests to heighten the functionality of your hippocampus. Think about it! What don’t you know how to do that’s always intimidated you as well as intrigued you? Now’s the time to give it a try. Your reward is not in the accomplishment of the task, but in the process.