NEURO GEEK, where I dive a little deeper into cool (if wonky) scientific theories, discoveries, and history; and

Who knew a book about the human brain could be so enlightening and enjoyable at the same time? Science has come a long way and Dr. Rahul Jandial is on the leading edge of some of the most promising and innovative breakthroughs in treating the brain. In Life Lessons from a Brain Surgeon Jandial strikes an elegant balance between highlighting scientific discoveries, "busting" popular myths and providing realistic tips that can be applied to everyday life. The stories he shares about his experiences and the brain's ability to adapt and heal are incredibly inspiring Sandy Nunez, ESPN World-leading neuroscientist Dr Rahul Jandial takes readers on a journey through the body's most mysterious organ. As well as revealing the secrets of the working brain, he offers tips on boosting memory, minimising pain and cutting Alzheimer's risk Mail on Sunday Although there is still a lot to find out about the brain, it is a proven fact that you can actually boost your natural cognitive abilities by making your brain think and learn. Having healthy eating habits, staying active and committing to lifelong education will make your brain remain healthy for the next decades. Another fascinating case was Marina, a 33 year old Chilean language teacher, with a tumour (meningioma) the size of a peach who had to choose whether to lose her ability to speak Spanish or English after brain surgery. The tumour was located in her left frontotemporal region, the seat of language. She chose to lose English, as her first language, and her family’s was Spanish.However, what scientists do know is that sleep is a time when short-term memories in your hippocampus are changed into long-term memories kept somewhere in your cortex. As a matter of fact, various studies have revealed that students who are preparing for a test remember more information if they get some sleep the night before than studying all night. Also, a night’s rest can make us better equipped to solve problems. There’s a probability that you have heard of the theory that “left-brained” people are more logical while “right-brained” people are more creative. This theory was said in 1973 by Nobel Prize winner and researcher Roger W. Sperry in the New York Times Magazine and the theory was well known. However, Sperry’s theory hasn’t been accepted. Although the left part of the brain does control language and math skills, however, there is no proof that specific kinds of people use one side of the brain more than the other.

Under the cortex, the brain’s structure consists of the following the hippocampus, the amygdala, the thalamus, the hypothalamus, the brain stem, and the cerebellum. Additionally, these structures also control various functions like such as the formation of memories as well as breathing and they also aid in transiting hubs modulating and fine-tuning signals passed between different parts of the brain.Once upon a time dreams were taken as omens from above. Until, in 1899, Sigmund Freud asserted in his book The Interpretation of Dreams that they throw up symbols of our fears, repressed childhood memories and desires. Although Freud catapulted psychology into the twentieth century, not all his theories have held up to scientific research. “That’s not to say dreams aren’t cool and fascinating. Sometimes they do reveal an unexpected solution to a vexing problem or at least a fresh insight. Scientifically speaking, though, we still do not really understand why we dream – not in the same way we understand why we breathe, eat and have sex. It remains, as the journal Science noted in its 125th anniversary issue, one of nature’s great unsolved mysteries,” writes Jandial. Therefore, what do we know about the human brain? These chapters will describe the recent scientific understandings into this complex organ, dismissing any popular myths along the way. Also, you will get to know the role of memory, creativity as well as language and you will also see the simple advice on how to make sure that your brain is healthy all through your life. Life Lessons from a Brain Surgeon is part science, part self-help, part anecdotes. It is written in a straightforward style, making it accessible to anyone seeking not only a clear introduction to brain science, but also advice on practical actions to improve brain health.⁣⁣ THE GUT IS A SECOND BRAIN. Not really. The brain does project nerves out of the skull to nearly every millimeter of your body, including an extensive network of nerves in your guts that monitor your gastrointestinal tract. But many patients have undergone multiple variations of near-total bowel removal without demonstrating any attributable mental dysfunction.

When it comes to the nature versus nurture debate, it’s clear that environment plays an important role in the development of cognitive health. And it’s parents’ job to make sure children get what they need to develop healthy brains. Though the human brain continues maturing well into a person’s late twenties, the early years, when brains are most malleable, are particularly important when it comes to parenting. Although not all your short-term memories transition to long-term memories. However, during your sleep, most of your memories from the day before being removed. Gradually, scientists have now come to understand that, although we consider sleep as a time of rest, the brain essentially uses this time actively to clear out what it doesn’t need and it restores itself. However, with all the parts the brain has, the brain isn’t a standalone organ. its neurotransmitters spread everywhere in your body through the spinal cord and directly to your heart and gut.BRAIN TRAINING IS BOGUS. In truth, leading researchers at top universities around the world continue to investigate the effects of computerized “brain games” and all sorts of other training methods to improve cognitive performance. This book covers a lot of territory: memory, intelligence, language, creativity, smart drugs (and others), sleep, head injuries (a constantly changing field at the moment), diet for the brain, implants, stem cells, how the brain differs in youth and old age. Turns out the real science of peak performance is pretty much the same as the prescription for general good health: get enough sleep, eat healthy, do what you can to reduce stress, avoid head injuries, and don’t take street drugs or the ones touted on line as ‘smart drugs’. And hope that new treatments for dementia come down the pipeline before you get it. Neurologists and neurosurgeons are doing some amazing things, but there is still so much that can’t be fixed. Hedge your bets by following his prescription.