I believe everyone likes to listen to music, but does listening to music have any stimulating effect on the brain? Can it improve thinking ability? Below is the content I brought to you about whether learning music can improve brain thinking. I hope you like it.

Small ways to improve thinking ability

Early on, brain scans of musicians and non-musicians of the same age showed that there were big differences in the brain structures of the two. For example, the corpus callosum (which connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain and is responsible for transmitting information important for higher brain functions) is significantly larger in musicians. For professional keyboard musicians, the parts of their brains involved in motor, auditory, and visuospatial abilities are also significantly larger than those of non-musicians. The area of ??the violinist's brain that controls sensation in the left hand is more developed.

At the same time point, a comparative study was conducted on the brain data of musicians and non-musicians. Under such conditions, it is impossible to determine whether these differences are due to musical training or whether anatomical differences make these people musicians. But later, longitudinal follow-up studies on the research subjects showed that adolescents who had received music training for more than 14 months had obvious changes in brain structure and function compared with children who had not received training.

Above, these studies collectively show that learning a musical instrument can not only increase the volume of gray matter in different areas of the brain, but also strengthen the connection between gray matter. Other research shows that musical training also improves verbal memory, spatial reasoning, and literacy skills, so professional musicians often outperform musicians in these abilities.

Early music training can have lifelong benefits

Importantly, brain scan results show that the degree of brain changes in musicians is related to the time they learn music and the intensity of practice. The earlier you start training, the greater the brain changes.

Even a short period of musical study in early childhood can have long-lasting beneficial effects. For example, in a 2013 study, researchers recruited 44 older adults and divided them into three groups based on their level of childhood musical training. One group had members who had never received music training, the second group had received music training ranging from 1 to 3 years, and the third group had received music training ranging from 4 to 14 years.

The researchers played complex speech recordings for participants and used scalp electrodes to measure neural response times in parts of the auditory brainstem. As we age, the accuracy of this timing becomes less precise, making it difficult to understand speech, especially in environments with a lot of background noise. Participants who received musical training demonstrated faster neural responses, suggesting that even limited childhood musical training helps maintain sharp speech processing and improves resilience to age-related decline in hearing.

Recently, it has become increasingly clear that music training can help patients recover from strokes and other brain injuries. Now, some researchers believe it may also improve speech processing and help overcome dyslexia and other language disorders in children. Furthermore, the benefits of musical training can last for many years, even decades. All this evidence suggests that learning to play an instrument in childhood protects the brain from the development of cognitive impairment and dementia.

Unlike commercial brain training products that emphasize only the performance of the skills involved, music training produces what psychologists call the transfer effect. That said, learning to play an instrument appears to have broader effects on brain and mental functioning, and improves other, seemingly unrelated abilities.

Lofty said: "Music can reach parts of the brain that other things cannot. It is a strong cognitive stimulation. It grows the brain in a way that no other function does, and music The evidence that training enhances things like working memory and language is very strong.”

Therefore, learning to play an instrument appears to be one of the most effective forms of brain training. Music training can induce various structural and functional changes in the brain, depending on the type of instrument learned and the intensity of the training regime. This example shows how lifelong experiences can change the brain, further contributing to changes in personal lifestyle characteristics.

The next issue of the "Brain Science" series will launch "Using both hands and brain development" to explore whether training children's left and right hands will fully develop their brains and make them smarter.

Tips to improve thinking skills

Improve thinking and language skills

1. Read as much as possible.

Reading can be a good exercise for the brain. You can read newspapers, magazines or books. The more difficult the reading, the better the training for the brain. As with any exercise, it's best to start small and then work your way up.

Try reading some books where you can learn new things, such as history books or books on other subjects that interest you.

2. Increase your vocabulary.

You can use a dictionary or a calendar with words to learn new words. This method can exercise your language center.

Learn new words in a place you can always see. You can hang a whiteboard for learning vocabulary in the kitchen, or put a sticky note on the table, etc. Choose words that are difficult to spell and use for best practice results.

3. Write something.

Writing requires thinking hard. You can write an original story or write a weekly diary. As long as something is written after thinking, it has the meaning and value of the text itself.

4. Learn a new language.

Learning a language is like hacking into the brain, opening up various channels in the brain. This method can exercise the part of the brain that stores language information, and even allow you to better master your native language.

Learning a language is a great way to continually learn new things and challenge your brain. Even if you just learn a few simple words or phrases, you can still exercise your brain.

5. Try the "post-processing method".

First predict the possible direction of something in daily life, and then explore the consequences of various directions. This method can increase your creativity and problem-solving skills.

6. Use your non-dominant hand. If you're right-handed, practice using your left hand. If you are left-handed, try using your right hand. This method stimulates the areas of the brain that control muscles.

7. Learn an instrument.

Learning an instrument or vocal music is an activity that requires long-term persistence, so it is also a good way to challenge the brain. You can take corresponding courses, learn on your own using instructional videos, or join groups such as a choir to do something related to music.

Try learning the ukulele. It's a very simple instrument, and you can find many ukulele clubs.

Play games to exercise your brain

1. Play a little crossword puzzles and other intellectual games every day.

Simple mind games like crossword puzzles can help give the brain some basic exercise. And it’s convenient and simple and can be practiced every day. There are also many free brain games online.

2. Gradually do some more complex intellectual games.

Complex large-scale intellectual games can better exercise the brain. While these games sometimes take days, or even a week, to complete, they are well worth the effort. Intellectual games do not just refer to intellectual games in the traditional sense. You can try the nine-square grid number filling game. Use it to pass the time and your brain can get a good exercise.

3. Consider playing chess.

Chess is a game that pays great attention to tactics and strategy. Chess is more of a brain exercise than a mind game. Chess is easy to learn and the rules of the game are simple.

Look for a local chess club. This way you will have more opportunities to play chess and learn from experienced players.

4. Play video games appropriately.

In fact, playing video games appropriately can make you smarter. Problem-solving games like "Super Mario," "The Legend of Zelda," "Graffiti" and "Misty Island" are like aerobic exercise for the brain. They unleash your creativity, allow you to solve problems better, and make your thinking sharper.

Participate in social networking

1. Talk to people.

Talk to them about something you know or something they know. Discuss politics, religion, and other challenging topics. What you want is a real discussion, not a war of words. This is a great basic exercise for the brain.

You might even consider joining groups such as the International Toastmasters Association, which cover a wide range of topics.

2. Join an interest group.

Join an interest group or club to find people who have the same interests as you. You could find an interest club, political group, discussion group, or other similar organization. Talking to people who share similar interests can use your brain and skills.

3. Put your phone aside when talking to people.

When talking to others, your cell phone may distract you. So make it a habit to put your phone away when socializing. When hanging out with friends, try putting your phone in another room or turning it off. This forces you to stay focused on the conversation and allows you to work on improving your face-to-face communication skills.

4. Be a volunteer.

Volunteer work can not only improve your relationships, but also encourage the development of new neural pathways. Try volunteering at a local food bank, animal shelter, hospital, or nursing home.

Lifelong learning

1. Return to school.

Going back to school is a great way to get your brain working again, and getting a little more education is also beneficial. You don't necessarily have to study for a degree.

If what you study can enhance your professional skills, your employer may be willing to sponsor you to complete your studies. In addition, you can also choose a subject that interests you to study.

And if you are on campus, I hope that after reading this article, you can cherish your study time on campus.

2. Take free courses.

If you don’t have enough money or time, you can also find many free courses online. Some courses even come from the world's top universities such as Harvard. Try the free NetEase Open Courses, Khan Academy, or even Ted Talks to experience college courses.

3. Use more skills you have already mastered.

The brain, like muscles, will degenerate if not used. The longer the information and skills stored in the brain are neglected, the more serious the "corrosion" will be. In order to maintain and use your skills anytime, anywhere, you need to practice more basics, such as doing arithmetic.

4. Choose a new hobby.

Learning a new skill is also a great way to exercise your brain. In particular, creative skills like music, dance, and visual arts can exercise various parts of the brain and bring you unexpected benefits.

5. Make something.

Whether you are building a robot or building a bench for a hallway, just thinking about the steps of making it can be a good exercise for your brain. It would be even better if you just make it yourself with only a sketch and no instructions. Learn some basic production skills, then use your creativity to make your brain more flexible.

Stay healthy

1. Pay attention to diet and exercise.

In fact, diet and exercise also affect brain health. If you want to keep your brain functioning at its peak, maintain a healthy diet and eat more protein and omega-3 fatty acids so your brain can get the nutrients it needs. Drink as much water as possible. Physical activity is also good for your health, reducing the chance of stroke and increasing the amount of oxygen in your blood.

2. Participate in physical exercise.

You can improve your hand-eye and body coordination by learning new exercises and sports. Tai Chi and pinball machines are good examples.

3. Ensure adequate sleep.

Scientists have further discovered that sleep actually plays a vital role in maintaining brain health. While you sleep, your body removes toxins from your brain and repairs it. If you want to protect your brain, be sure to get regular and adequate sleep.

4. Change your daily schedule.

Try taking different routes to and from get off work. This will prevent you from neglecting to use your brain due to the monotony of life. You can also change the way you work, such as using an exercise ball or something else while working.