"What's your favorite brain exercise?"

• 

  Posted: Feb 05, 2009 04:05 PM

  TheBestLife

  Richmond, VA

  Phil writes a blog for the U.S. News & World Report called The Best Life.

  Word puzzlers, card games, mind twisters. What's your favorite brain exercise, and is there any evidence it keeps those neurons firing away?

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• #1

  

  Posted: Feb 08, 2009 07:13 PM
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  citygirl15

  New York, NY

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  I'm addicted to Facebook's Pathwords....though I'm not sure if it keeps those neurons firing.

• #2

  

  Posted: Feb 08, 2009 07:24 PM
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  joanie

  New Milford, NJ

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  Doing Sudoku puzzles is a wonderful way to exercise the brain. I do them online at http://www.dkmsoftware.com/sudoku/ or I print them and work on them at lunchtime, while waiting in a doctor's office, etc. You can start with the easy puzzles and work up to the advanced ones. Try it!

• #3

  

  Posted: Feb 09, 2009 09:21 PM
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  Carol M

  Paramus, NJ

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  Luckily, my work keeps my brain going as if on a high-wire; constantly learning new skills on the computer.

  But, when I want to challenge my brain to "create new pathways", something which conventional wisdom once said couldn't be done, I try brushing my teeth with my left hand. It's not pretty, but the belief is that it takes approxmately 21 daily repetitions for the brain to think it's learning something new and that it's time to create a new pathway. Things like that (feeding yourself lefty-working out with weights while standing on one foot)are all considered brain excercise. There is a lot of research to back this up, so those of you who can't handle the Sunday crossword puzzle might want to try this method.

• #4

  

  Posted: Feb 10, 2009 10:52 AM
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  densefog

  Ellenville, NY

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  I try to to do the New York Times daily crossword puzzle. It gets more difficult as the week progresses. I feel good when I finish one quickly. I hope it is helping to keep my mind sharp.

• #5

  

  Posted: Feb 10, 2009 10:39 PM
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  JoanK

  Woodcliff Lake, NJ

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  Reading book reviews on "Good Reads", B&N, Harriet Klausner. Gives me great ideas/reviews on what to read, and generally leads me to having 10 books lined up on my nightstand. Only trouble is I fall asleep after 15 minutes of reading at bedtime!

• #6

  

  Posted: Feb 12, 2009 07:45 AM
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  marie

  Wayne, PA

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  I do crossword puzzles but really enjoy Scrabble. I bought the CD which allows you to play with a person or against the "Maven", and she is tough! You can play on different levels. Its a good way to increase your vocabulary.

• #7

  

  Posted: Feb 17, 2009 11:30 PM
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  indaba

  Ithaca, NY

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  I like the <a href="http://playwithyourmind.com">online brain games</a> at playwithyourmind.com

• #8

  

  Posted: Jun 18, 2009 02:39 PM
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  MaitreMedica

  Asbury, NJ

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  As the Director for <a href="www.StairLiftProfessionals.com">StairLiftProfessionals.com</a> my territory is Scranton which provides plenty of challenging places to find <a href="http://www.geocaching.com">Geocaches</a>. Geocaching is a huge global treasure hunt that you can easily do as a family. Or, there are more challenging geocaches hidden for the the puzzle oriented folks or daredevil types. Geocaching is a way for me to get my needed exercise and challenge my brain. Beware though this sport is VERY FUN & ADDICTING!

• #9

  

  Posted: Aug 21, 2009 05:03 PM
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  svposit

  San Francisco, CA

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  Something for brain fitness (you need to use your brain like a muscle, exercise it!).... try out http://60secondbraingame.com/ for free! Especially if you know what the Stroop effect is (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stroop_effect), you've gotta do this!

  Their paid products of course are amazing - and backed up by science (really, legitimate, not just based on design cases or a one-off study)

  (I'll be honest, I'm biased because I'm working at Posit right now, but it's fun)

• #10

  

  Posted: Jan 05, 2010 10:51 PM
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  GaryD

  Phoenix, AZ

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  Any exercise for the brain must provide: 1) novelty, 2) challenge and 3) variety, in order for it to be effective in creating new brain connections (brain plasticity). New neurons (brain cells) can be generated by physical exercise, according to several studies.

• #11

  

  Posted: Jul 25, 2012 11:36 PM
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  BetsyJ

  Santa Barbara, CA

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  I really like the brain exercises here:

  http://www.neuro-nation.com/click.php?name=Betsy3491

  They're all free! I do six every day, and I've noticed a difference in my daily life.

• #12

  

  Posted: Nov 19, 2013 10:53 AM
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  ardis sears

  Ozark, MO

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  aarp has a good selection of various brain games. also any internet service has games like sudoko, bingo, hidden mystery, candy crush saga to name a few. i think they work.. they do help pass the time and keep your mind alittle sharper.

• #13

  

  Posted: Dec 20, 2015 03:40 PM
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  TheTrashman

  Boston, MA

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  I love doing the online jigsaw puzzles at www.Jigidi.com