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HISTORY AND PRINCIPLES OF BRAIN PERFORMANCE
ENHANCEMENT
Less than 2 years ago the theory of neuroplasticity of the brain received strong scientific support. In November of 1998 the journal Nature Medicine published the results of a study done with terminal cancer patients in conjunction with Swedish and American scientists. A fluorescent green dye marker showed up new neuronal growth in a microscopic view of the hippocampal area of the brains of the just deceased patients. The undifferentiated cells were continuing to divide, and to produce new, fully functional neurons as well, right up until the death of each cancer patient. Now, for the first time, scientists had real proof that new neuronal growth was possible in the adult human brain. A very succinct description of this research is written up by Jim Robbins in his new book, A Symphony in the Brain (May,2000).
But, what causes this new growth? Earlier animal research by Mark Rozenzweig and Bruno Will, and later by Marian Diamond showed that rats who were exposed to stimulating environments were better learners, and had heavier, denser brains than similar rats in non-stimulating environments. Dr. Diamond also found that even older rats, with age equivalents to 76 year-old humans, showed the same increase in learning capability and density in the brain.
Other research involving nuns in a convent resulted in the finding that those with the most education lived the longest and were less debilitated as they aged. A UCLA grad student, Jacobs, examined the brains of cadavers to see if there were differences between those with more or less education. He found that the more educated individuals had more dendritic growth. Large scale studies in the USA and several foreign countries demonstrated that older individuals with more education or those who had challenging jobs scored higher on tests of cognitive performance and were in generally better health. Perhaps it is safe to conclude that stimulation of the brain is what keeps its dendrites reaching out and new neurons sprouting (at least in the hippocampus). Moreover, greater stimulation appears to serve us well in terms of enhancing learning and maintaining general health.
Peak alpha frequency (PAF) is something like a physiological signature. We stabilize our PAF at approximately age 14 and it remains at that frequency (about 10.4 Hz) for most of our lives, only slowing for illness, injury, sleep or old age. However, brighter people tend to have faster PAFs (up to 12 Hz or so) while those not so cognitively gifted might show 8 - 8.5 Hz PAFs.
Budzynski has used several methods to improve peak alpha frequency in elderly individuals and has presented these results at several professional meetings over the last few years. One protocol has come to be known as "Brain Brightening," and includes audiovisual stimulation and the use of audiotapes as well as neurofeedback in certain cases. Enhancement of academic performance: A recently published study by Budzynski et al (1999) in a refereed journal detailed the results of audiovisual stimulation with university students who had sought help from the university counseling service because of academic difficulties. The students were divided into two groups, one of whom received 30 15 minute AVS sessions while most of the other group continued with counseling. The groups were compared on many physiological responses and with the change in GPA (grade point average) from the GPA of the quarter prior to training with the GPA of the quarter following the end of training. There were significant differences in changes in GPA between the two groups, with the AVS group showing the greatest improvement.
Less than 2 years ago the theory of neuroplasticity of the brain received strong scientific support. In November of 1998 the journal Nature Medicine published the results of a study done with terminal cancer patients in conjunction with Swedish and American scientists. A fluorescent green dye marker showed up new neuronal growth in a microscopic view of the hippocampal area of the brains of the just deceased patients. The undifferentiated cells were continuing to divide, and to produce new, fully functional neurons as well, right up until the death of each cancer patient. Now, for the first time, scientists had real proof that new neuronal growth was possible in the adult human brain. A very succinct description of this research is written up by Jim Robbins in his new book, A Symphony in the Brain (May,2000).
But, what causes this new growth? Earlier animal research by Mark Rozenzweig and Bruno Will, and later by Marian Diamond showed that rats who were exposed to stimulating environments were better learners, and had heavier, denser brains than similar rats in non-stimulating environments. Dr. Diamond also found that even older rats, with age equivalents to 76 year-old humans, showed the same increase in learning capability and density in the brain.
Other research involving nuns in a convent resulted in the finding that those with the most education lived the longest and were less debilitated as they aged. A UCLA grad student, Jacobs, examined the brains of cadavers to see if there were differences between those with more or less education. He found that the more educated individuals had more dendritic growth. Large scale studies in the USA and several foreign countries demonstrated that older individuals with more education or those who had challenging jobs scored higher on tests of cognitive performance and were in generally better health. Perhaps it is safe to conclude that stimulation of the brain is what keeps its dendrites reaching out and new neurons sprouting (at least in the hippocampus). Moreover, greater stimulation appears to serve us well in terms of enhancing learning and maintaining general health.
Peak alpha frequency (PAF) is something like a physiological signature. We stabilize our PAF at approximately age 14 and it remains at that frequency (about 10.4 Hz) for most of our lives, only slowing for illness, injury, sleep or old age. However, brighter people tend to have faster PAFs (up to 12 Hz or so) while those not so cognitively gifted might show 8 - 8.5 Hz PAFs.
Budzynski has used several methods to improve peak alpha frequency in elderly individuals and has presented these results at several professional meetings over the last few years. One protocol has come to be known as "Brain Brightening," and includes audiovisual stimulation and the use of audiotapes as well as neurofeedback in certain cases. Enhancement of academic performance: A recently published study by Budzynski et al (1999) in a refereed journal detailed the results of audiovisual stimulation with university students who had sought help from the university counseling service because of academic difficulties. The students were divided into two groups, one of whom received 30 15 minute AVS sessions while most of the other group continued with counseling. The groups were compared on many physiological responses and with the change in GPA (grade point average) from the GPA of the quarter prior to training with the GPA of the quarter following the end of training. There were significant differences in changes in GPA between the two groups, with the AVS group showing the greatest improvement.