New Brain – New You!

15 Big Ways the Internet 

is Changing Our Brain

Consider the impact of the Internet on your body and brain’s well-being.  An interesting blog article from OnlineCollege.org suggests ways computers and Smart Phones are changing us.   

Consider how these changes effect our physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being.  Reflect on ways we can utilize technology to enhance our life!

Health Benefits of Nature (Slide Show)

Play Outside for Improved Attention and Health!

Health Care-toon by Ed Fischer

Evidence shows how childhood ADD/ADHD, obesity, type-2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and excess stress can be positively impacted through outdoor physical activity.  Green exercise, playing outdoors has significant effect on health and learning according to the National Environmental Education Foundation.   James R. Roberts, MD assembled this research presented in a slide format.

ADHD article is really an AD?

Medications are suggested – but why?

EverydayHealth.com posts excellent articles on pressing topics such as Lesley Alderman’s Rise of ADHD.  I rarely include their articles on my blog because solutions, written in their articles or shown on the side panels, involve medications.  This Body Brain BOOGIE blog posts many natural, non-drug ways to harness ADHD, using ADHD tendencies to maximize learning in a healthy way.

ADHD and Bipolar Disorder Research

May lead to better diagnosis and treatment

Researchers distinguish between ADHD and Pediatric Bipolar Disorder using fMRI brain imaging at the brain network level.  This research from the University of Illinois at Chicago may lead to better diagnosis and treatment.  Dr. Mani Pavuluri and John Sweeney co-authored the study.

NOTE:  Go back through this Body Brain Boogie blog and find articles showing natural (non-drug) ways to treat these neurological deficits.

Low Grades Linked to Dopamine Genes

Enhance Dopamine Naturally – Will this Remedy ADHD?

Newswise reports research showing genetic causes lower dopamine that can result in ADHD, depressive disorders, poor memory, etc.  Why not use natural, non drug remedies, boosting dopamine with certain foods, exercise, sleep and more, according to LiveStrong.com?  Alexis Writing contributing to eHow.com reinforces the natural approach.  See the related articles and videos.  Once again exercise prevails.  Does this suggest natural remedies for ADHD?  Good question; ask your doctor if already taking drugs to be safe.  Important.

Exercise and Improved Learning (video)

Brain science produces results!   Exercise is essential!

Dr. John Ratey, author of SPARK: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, speaking to Steven Palkin on The Agenda TV program cites research and positive results of exercise on enhanced learning and effective remedy for attention deficit, aggression, mood disorders, anxiety, and depression. For a more complete discussion, listen to Dr. Ratey’s talk at Authors at Google.

Healthier Students are Better Learners

A Missing Link in School Reforms
To Close the Achievement Gap

Charles Basch from the Teachers College, Columbia University offers a comprehensive essay on effective School Health programs. Topics including vision, asthma, teen pregnancy, aggression and violence, physical activity, breakfast, and inattention and hyperactivity are addressed. Thanks to Charles for offering this Research Initiative of the Campaign for Educational Equity.

Bottom line – “Healthier Students are Better Learners!”

Hypo-Slow Vestibular System (video)

‘Fidget is Legit’ in classrooms to aid

our learning challenged students

Video: We are creating learning handicaps in our classrooms for students with vestibular weakness when we don’t provide enough physical movement that stimulates the vestibular and connected visual, auditory, tactile, and proprioception (muscular) sensory systems. Attention deficit may result as the RAS, Reticular Activation System is under-stimulated by a hypo-slow vestibular system.

NCLB, Leave No Child Behind by insisting our learning challenged students have frequent opportunities to strengthen their body brain systems called upon to succeed in school. Daily Physical Education strengthens the vestibular system with repeated movements (e.g., rolling, spinning, bouncing, stop and go, balancing, etc.). Let’s move on this!

America on Drugs

Is our health care system costing us our health?

Craig Stellpflug’s article, Misguided Trust – America on Drugs, presents a bleak picture of health care in America. Emphasis on drugs, rather than on healthy lifestyle is costly. America’s health care costs will soar to $4.1 trillion annually. We spend more for health care than any other country, yet we are only 34th in the world for infant mortality and 42nd for life expectancy.

Craig presents other startling statistics, then ends his article, encouraging us to eat quality food, exercise daily and find positive ways to focus on positive things and creative hobbies. Check out Craig on his Healing Pathways website.

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Auditory Function in Academics

Expanding auditory digit span remediates many learning problems

Kay Ness, MS Neurodevelopmental specialist has written an intriguing article citing the importance of the auditory system for reading, conversational language, understanding complex instructions, learning long words using phonics, solving psychological problems and improving maturity. ADD, ADHD, autism and Down syndrome are mentioned. Much of the article is focused on auditory digit span. This is very interesting.

Kay said, “If I was going to pick the greatest functional problem in our society today, I would choose auditory processing.” Kay definitely made her case.

Get ADD Students Organized (video)

Base your teaching approaches on the brain part affected

Kathie Nunley from Brains.org has posted a short video, Teaching Tip 12, explaining ways to help ADD and ADHD students get organized. She relates methods based on whether the hind brain or pre-frontal cortex is involved.

Remember, low dopamine production can be raised through gross-motor movements, helping boost attention what ever areas of the brain or approach is used. Insist on more classroom activity, recess and daily physical eduction!

Top 10 Myths about ADHD

Read this article and decide on the 'real' ADHD myth

The first thing I notice as I am reading this article by Jean Rothman on the EverydayHealth website is the Concerta ad above the article, stating “Manage your child’s ADHD symptoms this school year.” Another ad adjacent to the headline says, “Get a FREE Trial.” Start reading this article and notice how many points are made justifying medication to treat ADHD. Notice how many more drug ads are posted along the side and bottom of this article. Are they trying to sell you something?

Now go back and read Thom Hartmann’s article yesterday and Thomas Armstrong’s previous article on this blog giving a different perspective. You tell me… what approach do you want to take… meds or a natural one, accommodating ADHD giftedness?

Be careful, if you or your child is taking meds, a guided approach needs to be taken before removing the drug. Talk with a specialist working with natural dietary, self-management and movement approaches before easing off.

ADD Isn’t the Problem

Attention Deficit Disorder -- a Different Perspective

Thom Hartmann, author of six books on Attention Deficit Disorder takes exception to the seriousness of ADD and ADHD. He insists that poor science casts a negative image on children, giving them a learning defect, when in reality it is the assembly-line, conveyer-belt schools that are dysfunctional. Take ADD and ADHD students out of this constrained setting and watch their learning genius and self-worth excel. Thank you Whole Family website for offering this article which is strangely absent from leading websites counseling parents about ADD.

Pump Dopamine Naturally

Use your body to pump this essential brain-boosting chemical

Good-feeling dopamine is a pleasure/reward neurochemical that boosts attention, raises motivation, and orchestrates the prefrontal cortex – the executive brain that focuses on learning and minimizes impulsivity. Stimulant drugs are sometimes prescribed to help people diagnosed with ADD and ADHD produce more dopamine. Brisk, large muscle movements do the same, especially aerobic exercise.

Daily physical education, morning and afternoon recess, frequent physical activity breaks, and subject matter taught with movement will get dopamine pumping naturally.

This is a great fix for frittering minds!

Note: The Health Care-toon shown above is taken from the Health Care-toon Calendar, 365 Ways to Look and Feel Great by cartoonist Ed Fischer and Jeff Haebig. Visit WellnessQuest.com for a daily Health Care-toon and related wellness ideas.

Learning Challenges Unfold

When physical movement is put on hold…

Writer’s block, reading delays, LD, ADD, ADHD, and a host of other learning and behavioral challenges can result from lack of movement.

Examples include a fetus frozen by excess stress in the uterus, C-section babies who fail to exert themselves during birth, infants lying on their back or trapped in a car seat, baby swing or playpen for extended periods, young children deprived of plenty of robust play, young learners sitting in their desks doing endless worksheets rather than learning concept through frequent sensory and motor activities, lack of repetitions writing, talking, reading, and primary reflexes (e.g., ATNR, STNR, grasp, spinal gallant) not integrated through repeated physical movement… the list goes on.

Daily Physical Education, morning and afternoon recess, and multiple movement opportunities during each class period will engage the body brain, helping resolve some of these learning issues taking root in body tissues. For more severe learning delays a more focused, remedial physical approach is needed to mature neural networks, helping people realize their living and learning potential. Movement is key!

Prime the Brain Before Studying

Move your muscles to produce and pump learning chemicals

Chemical messengers communicating between neurons are needed for the brain to pay attention and focus. Since attention precedes learning, it makes good sense to produce and pump enzymes, hormones, and neurochemicals needed, especially for people with ADD, ADHD, and other attentional challenges.

Large muscle movements (e.g., circling the arms overhead) produce dopamine, the pleasure/reward motivational chemical that orchestrates the pre-frontal cortex called upon to learn. Moving the arms and legs across the body engages both sides of the brain, helping with sequential and global brain functions involved with writing and math.

Daily Physical Education and frequent movement activities throughout the day will help brain cells excel. Why rely on stimulant drugs when the body can do the work!

Do the Body and Brain Cell dance to prime the brain.

Neurodevelopment Intro

Brain stem, midbrain and cortex development and problems

Toni Hager, originator of Kids Can Learn website, presents a thorough overview of brain and central nervous system, identifying stages of development, and pinpointing what learning and behavior problems result when the spinal cord, brain stem, midbrain and cortex fail to properly develop. Visual, auditory, tactile, and proprioceptive competence, as well as mobility, manual, and language proficiency are affected.

What is often perceived as learning and behavioral problems in school have neurological roots that can often be remedied naturally, targeting the source of dysfunction.

Myth of ADD

Look at ADHD in a new light with natural solutions

Dr. Thomas Armstrong is author of 13 books including 7 Kinds of Smart and The Myth of the A.D.D. Child, 50 Ways to Improve Your Child’s Behavior and Attention Span Without Drugs, Labels or Coercion. His website offers his books and articles worth pursuing. I like how Thomas Armstrong uses positive, natural, wellness-based approaches to build each child’s ultimate worth.

Isn’t it strange that leading websites addressing ADD and ADHD fail to mention Thomas Armstrong and his natural methods of remedying behavioral and learning problems? They also fail to mention how brisk exercise boosts dopamine levels in the pre-frontal cortex, alleviating much of the problem. Medications are suggested.

Stimulating the Autistic Brain

Using Motor Patterning and Childhood Reflexes

Suzanne Amanor-Wilks article explains, “how cognition and movement are really the same” and how therapies for autism, leading to higher levels of behavior and learning are centered on movement, reflexes, posture and muscle control. Suzanne briefly explains the role of primitive reflexes, motor patterns, sensory-motor integration, and brain stimulation.

Dr. Svetlana Masgutova, who is developing a body of research showing how brain structure can change after a few hours of reflex integration therapy, is offering an extensive Family Education Conference for Children and Adults with Challenges and Gifts. The program is open to children with Cerebral Palsy, Autism, Asperger Syndrome, ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia, Down’s Syndrome, Developmental Delay, Speech and Language development delay, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Emotional Instability, and other symptoms, such as chemical imbalances, metabolic disorders and allergies.

Cerebellum Key to Learning

Watch Prof Bellum's explanation about how the brain makes skills automatic.

Watch this video explaining how the cerebellum is involved with reading, writing, spelling, coordination, attention and memory. Expanded research of the cerebellum shows how movement is essential to learning. Thank you Dore.com for advancing the need for Physical Education in our schools.