SPECULATION ABOUT THE HEALTH ROLE OF A STRATEGIC AND OPERATIONAL BRAIN
Consider the experiments showing that elderly patients with depression and cognitive slowing treated with either brain training or citalopram. The brain training group recovered in 4 weeks and the citalopram antidepressant group recovered in 12 weeks.
...and the experiment showing that high intensity interval exercise with added brain training resulted in improved duration of exercise to exhaustion greater than the control group 115% vs 42%.
What do these two experiments suggest about the role of the fast healthy brain in relation to your health and performance? Does the fast mind allow faster completion of everyday tasks and and greater stamina to function beyond the work day into recreational nights and weekends?
Does the brain lead or follow fitness? The brain is ultimately responsible for strategic and operational actions. Improving or diminishing the brain and the body is reciprocal however the brain decides and initiates. Fast brain, better choices?
Two strategic ways to operationally improve fitness by improving the brain.
1. Brain training up to 40 hours via positscience.com or BrainHQ.com. This type of improvement may be thought of as forming larger teams of low power neurons to improve function,
2. Optimize neurochemicals to augment the brain performance. This type of improvement may be thought of as increasing a chemical source of power in improve function by weakened neuron teams.
One may optimize the production of GABA by increasing L-Methylfolate in the brain which then contributes a methyl group to the production of serotonin, norepinephrine, dopa and GABA.
Folate and other B complex vitamins in the presence of a normal MTHFR or methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase gene function optimizes GABA and other monoamine neurtransmitters.
Caveat: one in three persons have weak forms of MTHFR function; 8% of the population are homozygous and have severe limitations in producing L-Methylfolate.
1. Take a B 100 complex vitamin daily to make more L-methylfolate and increase its transport into the brain.
2. For the one in three with MTHFR issues, one may take L-Methylfolate 10 mgs in addition to the B 100 complex vitamin.
The Brain, like other physical systems in our bodies operate within constraints of acceleration and braking systems. For example the Brain has an ACCELERATOR system based on the neurotransmitter GLUTAMINE and a BRAKING system based on GABA. Consider how important the accelerator and brakes are to the safe transit of the speedway by a race care which accelerates in the straightaways and brakes before the curves. Both are vital components to cover the distance in the least time and win the race. Brain training accelerates with GLUTAMINE and vitamins improve braking with GABA which allows speed and CONTROL.
The reward/punishment system of the emotional brain is now controlled by the cortex and central executive function of the brain; choosing, not reacting to uncontrollable impulses. One DISSOCIATES from the pain of pedaling and pedals farther. AND one can ASSOCIATE with pleasure through faster more accurate processing of sights, sounds, smells, tastes and touch.
Thought experiment: Does the faster brain with more GABA allow one to control and transfigure from addictions and compulsions like tobacco use, alcohol use, gambling and sexual addictions?
