Sounds of Learning

Studying the Impact of Music on Children with Autism

Newswise.com reports research conducted at UCLA using music to help children with autism spectrum disorders experience emotions, an essential part of relating to people (challenging for many people with ASD). The 12-week program uses the Orff method, developed by 20th century German Composer Carl Orff. Music and movement activity are “elemental” according to Orff. Singing, clapping, dancing, musical games are used to connect learning to emotions, in an interactive setting. Interesting how educational practices a hundred years ago knew what body brain research confirms today! It’s time educators today get with it, rather than cutting music and physical education programs, making these programs central to learning.

Exercise Brain Growth

Move Your Feet -- Grow New Neurons in Your Hippocampus

Brenda Patoine’s article on the DANA.org website cites research suggesting neurogenesis (new brain cell growth) resulting from exercise (e.g. hour a day, four times a week). MRI scans show growth takes place in the dentate gyrus within the hippocampus, an essential part of our memory system. The research suggests that exercise helps protect your brain throughout your lifetime. BDNF, is a major nerve growth factor involved in new brain cell growth and connectivity according to Carl Cotman, neurobiologist at the University of California, Irvine.

Enhance Fine Motor Activity

Improve Hand Writing and Other Hand Functions Using these Activities

Children with Challenges website offers many engaging fine motor activities designed to help people control hand function. This wonderful informational website points out the importance of posture, sensory processing, trunk and shoulder stability, and visual motor and visual perceptual skills involved with handwriting. Once again, the body is central to improving academic performance skills.

Alternative Therapies from A to Z

Dozens of natural (non-drug) therapies for LD

Karen Johnson and Jodee Kulp have briefly described dozens of natural non-drug approaches to help remediate learning challenges. It is one impressive list offered by Tool Box Parent.

Keep Your Aging Brain Sharp

Avoid Negative Brain Plasticity with fitness software

Michael Merzenich writing for Scientific American Mind, warns us of age-related cognitive decline. “Called negative brain plasticity – the cerebral equivalent of what has happened to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s biceps,” Merzenich advises training the brain. He promotes brain fitness software offered through Posit Science. Circuit Training, Computer Games for Mental Workouts, an article by Kaspar Mossman also gets you thinking. Is juggling, playing bridge, eating your fruits and vegetables, exercising, trying new wholesome activities, and building new social networks enough? Or should we spend money tapping into new brain stimulating technology?

Brain Science Comes to Life!

A website you can readily use to enhance your body brain!

Brain Leaders and Learners website authored by Dr. Ellen Weber offers ‘Practical Tactics from Neuro Discoveries’. This is one of the most useful sites for people wanting to understand and apply neuroscience to enhance their learning, work and lives. It is so heartening to visit this exceptional site and see how adaptable our brain is… we are continually revising our body brain to meet new demands we put on it. ‘Action’ is key to the process. Take action and visit this site regularly – it is a true gift!

Stretches at Your Desk

Video sequences for the back, shoulders, arms, and neck

Sitting at a desk for an extended period of time cause tightness, muscle soreness and fatigue. Mayo Clinic offers five short video clips you can follow to keep yourself loose and energized. Sitting on a stability or fitness ball keeps you mobile while working, pumping cerebral spinal fluid to the brain. Standing up and walking in place or stretching while in front of your computer makes your desk area a fitness zone. Productivity skyrockets!

4th of July Movement Routine

Feel physical fireworks following the actions

Rather than sitting and listening to the 1812 Overture performed to fireworks, why not create your own sparkle, mimicking my complex movement routine and echoing the lyrics. Dress in red, white and blue to experience total release. Can you do it? Engage your pre-frontal cortex, motor cortex, basal ganglia, cerebellum, visual, auditory, vestibular and kinesthetic body brain systems. This is the same body brain network that involves academic performance skills. Ka boom! What a blast!

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.

Moderate Exercise Is Defined

Strive for 100 steps per minute, 30 minutes a day walking

Many body brain benefits derived from exercise are dependent on the intensity of the workout. 30 Minutes of moderate exercise, 5 days of week is often suggested by organizations, such as the AHA, American Heart Association.

BBC News posted an article showing the research at San Diego State University. Using a pedometer is helpful, however it fails to measure the intensity of exercise shown to release important body brain enhancing hormones, enzymes, neurotransmitters and nerve growth factors essential to optimized function.

Why Exercise?

Reasons for exercising fails to include learning enhancement

AAOS, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons suggest reasons for exercising. I enjoy the content on their website, however, the reasons for exercising provided in the brief article fails to include the impact of exercise on the brain… and how it enhances memory, motivation, attention, and boosts academic performance skills – the focus of this body brain enhancing Blog. Still the AAOS website is well worth your time, especially the safety guides citing ways to prevent muscle and joint injury.

Exercise Carrot Power!

You will be astonished how healthy carrots are!

They contain “beta-carotene, alpha carotene and phytochemicals that may reduce the risk of cancer, strokes, hinder the aging process, balance hormonal metabolism, and have antiviral and antibacterial properties,” according to the World Carrot Museum. This is a must read body brain super nutrition website! Eat more carrots – you most likely won’t be asking, “What’s up Doc?”

Health Benefits of Music

Stroke recovery, heart benefits, healing, and cancer therapy

BBC News has posted several articles showing how music can foster higher well-being. Music can aid stroke recovery. Learning a musical instrument could be good for the heart... Music aids the healing process... and harp therapy for cancer patients...

Autistic Developmental Challenges

Six basic developmental skills lay a foundation for learning

ICDL, The Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders website provides insight of the milestones needed to lay a solid foundation for learning and development. Autistic and other special need students need more time and help to master these skills. ICDL addresses this challenge with their DIR®/Floortime program that targets social interactions and problem solving, as well as sensory-integration therapy, designed to change the way the brain processes sensory input.

An article written on Edutopia focuses on Overcoming Autism: Public Schools Deal with a Growing Problem

Health Benefits of Generosity

Giving is Good for Our Health

M. J. Ryan author of The Giving Heart describes the positive effects of generosity on the mindbody. Not only do we make others feel good, we can also increase our physical well-being, raising endorphins in the bloodstream to relieve pain, increasing the number of T-cells in the immune system to help resist disease, feeling simultaneously energized and calm, and extending our lifespan.

Let’s be mindful of Etienne de Grellet’s words, “I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”

Or remember Ellen Glasgow words, “You can't take it with you. You never see a U-haul following a hearse.”

Yoga for All Ages

Older Adults Increasingly Turn to Yoga for Health

John Hanc writing for the AARP Bulletin Today offers good reason for older adults to practice the physical type of yoga designed to keep the muscles and joints resilient. I agree wholeheartedly with John about picking a knowledgeable yoga instructor sensitive to the aging body. Every pose has its variations suitable to people with stiff joints and those most supple. The key is keeping within your own daily comfort level. Proper breathing is also essential.

Serious Need for Play

Social, emotional and cognitive development rises from play


Scientific American Mind article written by Melinda Wenner cites compelling reasons to extend childhood play largely for social and emotional reasons. The article failed to address sensory motor development that comes from play. The visual, auditory, vestibular, tactile and kinesthetic systems are strengthened, allowing children to be more successful later on in school, writing, reading and carrying on other academic performance skills. This Body-brain Boogie Blog playfully works to fill in this gap, showing how play is core essential to learning.

Fuzzy Kisses

Early Childhood Brain Insights Blog

Early Childhood Brain Insights written by Deborah McNelis is well worth your time. Be sure to click on the videos showing the baby getting hysterical tearing paper and the baby finding the dog’s paw -- precious. Many excellent child development ideas are found on this body brain enriching Blog – Fuzzy Kisses and all -- way to go Deborah!

Squeeze In Daily Exercise

Finding Fitness: 10 Easy Ways to Fit in Exercise

Everyday Health website’s article by Beth Orenstein suggests ten ways to get your 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activities spread over five days a week, or 20 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity on each of three days a week. Be less efficient carrying groceries and laundry, making more trips carrying lesser amounts on each trip… and other useful ways to bring more movement to each day. Are you standing up, stretching while reading this post? I am standing on my balance board while writing it. Let's have fun exercising the body brain. Jeff

Mind Your Room Design

How Room Designs Affect Your Work and Mood

Emily Anthes writing for the Scientific American Mind cites brain research showing how to craft spaces that “relax, inspire, awaken, comfort and heal.” The article urges us to fabricate rooms and buildings with the Mind in Mind. Ceiling height, greenery, sunlight, room contents, furniture choices, all have a bearing on our moods and our ability to attend and think. In fact, students can perform better on their test scores with wise school design. Neuroeducation the new buzz may get into furniture and light fixtures… as well as body brain enhancing teaching and learning methods – the focus of this Blog.

Exercise Brain Wellness

Train Your Brain to Be Happier

Alvaro Fernandez writing for Sharp Brains starts his article with the understanding that our ‘mind’ or awareness emerges from the physical brain. Yes! That is why I continue to write “body brain” throughout this blog. The brain without the body is like the Pope without a church… or rain without the sky. From now on, say “body brain” ok? OK! Then pay particular attention to how your body is nurturing your brain to be happy.

Music and the Brain Video

Master my movement routine to speed your body brain!

Current body brain research shows the significance of learning novel and complex movements to extend neural networks. The new, speedier connections created between the sensory and motor system are the same pathways used during academic pursuits (e.g., writing, reading, calculating, spelling). Myelin is being added, speeding visual and auditory processing along with fine and gross motor movements.

How long will it take you to memorize the movement sequence and lyrics? When you do master it, send me a video clip. I will send a free copy of my perpetual Health Care-toons Calendar, 365 Ways to Feel and Look Great to the first five respondents who demonstrate mastery doing the entire routine (reciting the lyrics and mimicking the gestures), straight through without stopping the camera!

Drum Therapy

Rhythm for self-expression, healing and heightened well-being

Michael Drake cites research on About.com, showing how drumming can reduce tension, anxiety and stress… control chronic pain…boost the immune system… deepen self-awareness… induce altered mental states of euphoria… team with others… connect with the natural rhythms of life… integrate the body, mind and spirit… and heighten self-expression. What a fun way to get the beat on overall health! For more resources check the Shamanic Drumming website.

Autism Games

Use play for social, emotional and sensory motor development

Tahirih Bushey has developed a playful site full of articles and fun videos showing how to play with an autistic child. Autism Games shows a variety of effective ways to use play to build language and boost attention. Sensory and motor skills are being developed through repetition. Visit Tahirih’s blog and enjoy her engaging ways to help autistic children "regulate emotions… navigate the social world… and interact in the physical world.”

Creative Breath Taking

Boost mental clarity/creativity with breath taking

Enchanted Mind website suggests several ways to enhance your creativity. As a body brain enthusiast, I was impressed with the article on breath control, explaining how holding the breath, and alternate nostril breathing is effective. How about the deep water method of writing down ideas – hopefully you won’t drown of a writer’s cramp. Jeff

Relax to Soothing Music

Enjoy the rich aural delight of peaceful music

Change Your Thoughts blog brought to life by Steven Aitchison offers ten beautiful pieces of ambient music. Sit back and enjoy!

Eye! Eye! Learning Success!

Strengthen vison needed to read, write, learn!

View the All About Vision website for many insightful ideas about vision, including eye nutrition. One glaring omission occurs on their page citing how important eye exams are for children, relating various aspects of vision needed for learning – but failing to offer exercises that can be used to strengthen visual processing. Such exercises can be viewed on Eye Can Learn website! Seems strange that children’s eye exams in school do not measure these visual skills, and little thought is given about strengthening vision to help students better focus as they read, write, calculate, draw, catch a ball, etc. People talk about No Child Left Behind, but can't see that many children are left behind because of visual challenges. Let's change their view!

Music and the Brain

Music training changes brain networks

The DANA website reports the most current research related to brain science. For those of us interested in ways to enhance body brain function, exciting research has been reported relating musical rehearsal on the developing brain. Research by Ellen Winner and Gottfried Schlaug shows, “that children who receive weekly music instruction and practice regularly perform better on sound discrimination and fine motor tasks. Furthermore, brain imaging shows changes to the networks associated with those abilities.” Sound discrimination is central to reading and fine motor movement is key to writing. Let’s convey this research to educators who often fail to understand the importance of music to academic performance.

Active Sitting

Rid back, neck and shoulder pain caused by sitting

Mary Newell’s article posted on a leading Feldenkrais website shows the importance of regularly attending to your sitting position while at the computer, especially if you sit for extended periods of time. Have you noticed back, shoulder or neck pain recently? Then use a dynamic sitting position. The Feldenkrais method is worthy of your time and attention,