Not too long ago, I posted how over the long term, meditation can actually increase the size of the brain. Specifically, it thickens the cerebral cortex in areas important for attention and concentration.

I came across another study, though, that shows meditation over the short term can also

This is truly a must-know piece information for any high-school or college student. To place the severity of the problem in perspective:

• 75% of students have tried alcohol by the end of high school
• More than half of 12th graders and 20% of 5th graders have been drunk at least once (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2004 study)

About 2 weeks ago, I posted how an “empty stomach” can improve memory and boost brain power via a stomach-made hormone called ghrelin.

Ghrelin travels to the hippocampus, the memory engine of the brain, and causes new connections to form between brain cells.

Now, a study has been published that shows

This helpful bit should be of use to college students, busy executives, and anyone else who is dependent on high levels of concentration and brain power.

It turns out there is a growing body of research that shows, amazingly:

• Exposure to green outdoor settings (parks, trees, grassy backyards, etc…) can

A 2006 study out of the Division of Neuroscience and The Brain Research Center at University of British Columbia Hospital nicely summarizes one of the core teachings of brain enhancement:

• Regular doses of exercise can “massively increase” the growth of new brain cells in your brain.

The best part of it all, however, is the specific location

If your ability to concentrate and pay attention is bad enough to the point you’ve been told you have ADHD, the results from this new study may offer you some hope of brain enhancement without amphetamines.

The 2006 article from the journal Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes, and Essential Fatty Acids found that:

Many college student rely on caffeine for accelerated learning. However, contrary to what most people think, caffeine does not simultaneously stimulate all regions of your brain.

New brain imaging technology reveals that it preferentially stimulates the Frontal Lobes and the Anterior Cingulum. These areas are important for:

Children in elementary and middle school typically need 9.5 - 10 hours of sleep per night (probably closer to 10). When they only get 8-9 hours of sleep, their brain function and ability to learn drops markedly. Surprisingly, research studies seem to indicate just this 1 extra hour of sleep a night can make a very large difference.

For years it was thought (and taught!) that the brain can not create and make new brain cells.

This is false. Numerous studies have now conclusively proven otherwise.

What is really interesting, however, is that new studies show that the hippocampus- the memory engine of your mind- can actually

A study by Dr. Lipnicki- published in Cognitive Brain Research- suggests that you can boost creativity by lying flat.

20 people were asked to solve anagrams either lying down or standing up.  Since anagram answers frequently come in a flash of insight-i.e. a creative breakthrough - they were thought to be a good test of

A chemical widely used in manufacturing plastic food & drink containers and food bags can lead to brain damage and impair memory and learning. The culprit is Bisphenol A, aka BPA.

A recent study out of Massachussetts General Hospital found that meditating actually increases the thickness of the brain in areas involved in attention and sensory processing.

When romantic relationships end, the results can be devastating.

Using new technology, scientists are now able to actually see the extent of emotional damage done to the brain

A new study led by Dr. Bryan Raudenbush found that eating chocolate can improve cognitive performance, mood, and task workload.

New research out of Washington University suggests a great