“Mini Pleasures” Method BOOSTS Brain Power
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted December 1, 2023
Maybe it’s the midafternoon slump when your mind starts to wander…
Or perhaps it’s that fuzzy-headed feeling you get when burning the midnight oil.
Whatever the cause, your brain power is fading fast.
If you’re like many folks (including me), that’s when you head to the coffee machine.
But caffeine isn’t the only way to sharpen your mental abilities…
A recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports confirmed that coffee can give us a cognitive lift. No surprise there.
But it turns out you might not need that stimulant to get a brain boost.
Volunteers strapped on skin-monitoring wristbands and brain-monitoring headbands for the new study. Then they were tracked while listening to music, sipping coffee, and smelling perfume.
These “mini pleasures” triggered increased beta-band brain-wave activity, a state associated with peak cognitive performance.
And that boost translated to IMPROVED cognitive performance during tasks requiring concentration and memory.
In other words, rewarding yourself with a variety of little delights can literally sharpen your mental abilities.
Here’s how it works…
Anticipating pleasant things, like a favorite treat or leisure activity, fires up your body’s dopamine network, stimulating your brain’s reward system.
The resulting rush of feel-good neurotransmitters boosts your motivation, focus, and memory encoding.
The researchers used music and perfume for their experiment, but it can be anything you enjoy.
Minor indulgences like a dessert, a relaxing bath, a nice walk, or spending time with a friend can give your brain a lift while also lowering stress hormones that impair cognition.
Even planning an event like a future fun outing, meal, or get-together will do the trick.
Unhealthy vices provide short-lived highs.
But the good feelings derived from simple joys boost cognitive performance AND forge new neural pathways that can have an ongoing positive effect on your brain power.
So, the next time you find your focus getting fuzzy, reward yourself with a little pleasure. Your brain will thank you!
P.S. This surprisingly easy 10-minute hack doesn’t JUST pump the brakes on memory loss. It can also REVERSE existing decline!
Source:
Fekri Azgomi, et al. “Regulation of brain cognitive states through auditory, gustatory, and olfactory stimulation with wearable monitoring.” Sci Rep 13, 12399 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-37829-z
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
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