The brain functions on both a conscious and unconscious level. The conscious mind is associated with the frontal brain parts. These parts are active when interacting with the environment.

The brain functions on both a conscious and unconscious level. The conscious mind is associated with the frontal brain parts. These parts are active when interacting with the environment. The auditory and visual senses are controlled by lobes in this part of the brain. Human cognition allows them to analyze all information input. The brain then forms a problem solving strategy using the available information.

The set of skills that continuously monitor and manipulate information are natural cognitive abilities. The mind is investigative and uses existing information in memory to deduce the meaning of new observations. From each experience new information is stored. This builds up experience and advanced cognitive skills as seen in professionals at work.

The mind works with both short term and long term memory. To have brain fitness means to work with both memories efficiently to solve different scenarios. Brain activity is concentrated at different neurons depending with the information being retrieved and the emotions being evoked.

Electrical pathways of neurotransmitters are in the brain and nervous system and are formed by habitual processes. This means that with cognition of familiar circumstances, both the mind and the body react in a predictable manner. Alternatively in unfamiliar situations, response is slower because other cognitive skills try to gather more information. Prior practice prepares cognitive abilities to process information faster and adapt to new situations.

Impaired memory and poor cognition is affected by alcohol, malnutrition and exhaustion. Mental disease and general lack of mental exertion are the leading causes of long-term low cognitive skills. These conditions get worse with age but with mental exercise and the right diet, degradation can be arrested.

Neuroscience has developed techniques that can trace neural activity. This has established that people develop their own unique cognitive skills. They relate new events with past memories by recording sound, color and shapes. Everyone has their own preferred cognition techniques that may or may not be efficient.

By subjecting the brain to mentally challenging puzzles and situations, the efficiency of their cognition is put to test. This triggers the brain to compensate with new pathways and begins conditioning them to faster response. Physical exercise also contributes to boosting cognitive skills by improving blood circulation.

Activities that create emotional responses like listening to music also aid cognitive abilities. This is associated with the release of endorphines that calm the nervous system. Conversely, depression decreases cognitive abilities by putting a toll on the nervous system.

Comprehensive measures to improve brain fitness should be incorporated into one’s lifestyle. More focus should be placed on the desired cognitive skills. Some people wish to improve their short term memory while others are more concerned with long term memory.

Brain training is done by consciously making calculations and mental notes. There are many ways to commit things to memory. Techniques like chunking numerical information or relating letters to shapes and colors are used. Practicing the appropriate techniques defines one’s cognitive abilities. Often it is found that earlier inabilities were caused by inhibitions in the process of cognition.

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Thomas Mann is the author of this article on Cognitive Abilities.
Find more information on Cognition here.

Author: Thomas Manned.

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