How To Enhance Concentration To The Fullest
The brain is responsible for many functions of our body. When it comes to being productive or giving attention to some activity. Many would like to multitask on different tasks as some would feel they would have too much to do in a short period of time. This may cause the brain to perform inefficiently as it is processing too much. As someone constantly keeps switching tasks in between this tires out the brain which also can make a person tired. More importantly, it can make some indecisive about what choices they would have to make. With this in mind, it is likely it can impact creative thinking (not in a good way). There are many functions to what the body can do, however, humans perform best doing one task at a time. Grasping anything fully requires undivided attention since a lack of concentration leads to no return on what is trying to be learned or done.
Working memory, also known as short-term memory is where the individual retains recorded information. The concept of cognitive control involves the prefrontal cortex as this has to do with thoughts, emotions, attention, behavior, response, and others. Modulators such as dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin play a role since these are proponents of supporting cognitive function with energy and motivation to complete goals or tasks. Without a balance of these chemicals, it decreases the ability of cognitive control.
There are other factors that can enhance or demote cognitive function. Although there are many parts of the brain and it has its functions. It appears the prefrontal cortex is crucial when wanting to achieve a task. Since this part of the brain is based on goal-directedness and the decision-making process. Do keep in mind that too much activity (multi-tasking, stress, too much work) can negatively impact memory. The issue with simultaneously switching between tasks is that the brain has to continuously reconfigure its mapping throughout the biological neural network. There would be improper active maintenance of patterns in the prefrontal cortex that represents the main objective and the value of accomplishing it. It initiates signals to other brain structures whose expected result is to guide the flow of activity along neural pathways that develop proper mappings between inputs, internal states, and outputs needed to perform a given task. As mentioned previously multitasking requires more mental resources which can lead to poor performance and neurodegeneration.
The Importance of Being Creative
People who are creative tend to have sharper brains. They are able to articulate concepts, solutions, or something unique. There are areas in the brain where creativity occurs since different parts of the brain processes and hold information. Remember that beings use their 5 senses to capture information and it is placed in memory. The frontal lobe is where creativity occurs, but other parts of the brain are also involved like the parietal and temporal lobe. People who have a high volume of gray matter and cortical thickness tend to have mental clarity. In that regard, people with greater thickness would have high levels of intelligence. It is easy to say that the brain works best and is the most creative when feeling well.
Certain moods impact creativity differently such as fear may have a negative influence while being happy has a positive influence. Whether feeling pessimistic or optimistic they both support in being creative. But there is a greater effect when feeling optimistic, moreover when it comes to task switching the brain will use fewer resources to use (less switch cost). What also helps is boosting alpha waves in the brain since it makes a person feel relaxed which also helps with being creative and focused. Although feeling relaxed and ecstatic has advantages there must also be some negative element to help to be creative (at least to have some force to have creative drive). To keep it simple, some intense emotion must encourage beings to begin or continue their endeavors. In particular, humans need stimuli to respond or to activate biological processes. As mentioned, this is achieved through the 5 senses (Feel, smell, sight, hearing, and taste) and human experience is what acquires this all.
Does Being Self-Aware Help?
Being aware or being present can optimize the frontal lobe’s function as it will be able to develop solutions. Inhibition is what the brain will experience as the individual will have control over what needs to be done. In other words, distractions are present (which there are) such as a wave of news, gossip, a desire to consume unhealthy foods or others. Inhibitory control helps overpower the irresistible distractions to help maintain attention to the individual’s goal. The person is self-aware of certain implications that can block or hinder their progress. The frontal lobe contains the executive function synonymous with “cognitive control”. The concept of this ensures that the individual is able to differentiate what is relatively important and what is not (to the individual of course). This appears rather imperative since many may have unhealthy habits or addictions and some might have compulsive behaviors. All of this can make someone less cognitively flexible.
Neuromodulators That Support Cognitive Control/Flexibility
A balance of dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin supports cognitive health. These are apparent when needing to be driven and concentrated on the main objective. These neuromodulators (or neurotransmitters) are crucial since they provide certain functions such as mood states, motivation, energy, attention, and other means to keep someone functionally able. Without these, one can experience feeling irritable, restlessness, and potential brain-related illnesses which in term leads to cognitive decline. There must be a balance of the three in order to be creative and able to perform well on what subject matter needs to be pursued. It is observed that dopamine serves as the main contributor to creative drive and attention.
If you would like to learn a little bit more about dopamine check out this post: Balanced Dopamine Can Maximize Your Life
What Can Suppress A Creative Mind?
Simply, there are consumables and activities that can affect a person’s way of thinking. Which can be refined foods, drugs, alcohol, and anything that can give someone a chemical imbalance. It is observed that antidepressants can make an individual lose motivation, creativity, and cognitive flexibility. Possibly pharmacological substances can disrupt intellectual processes. Examples include thinking, memory, comprehension, problem-solving, and others. However, all of these are essential since they contribute to producing ideas or solutions. It is best to practice healthy habits that would encourage individuals to strive to keep themselves at their most optimal. Otherwise, people will be more likely to be cognitively impaired and unable to process what is being experienced around them (remember the 5 senses helps experience external surroundings).
What Techniques Can Enhance the Brain to Function Better?
It is evident that the brain works best in positive states. The individual is more likely to be creative, motivated, and focused. Incorporating daily processes can reinforce someone to feel well. What also might be helpful are divergent and convergent thinking. Convergent thinking is the process of developing rational solutions to challenges. Divergent thinking is thinking of multiple ideas for unique solutions. It can be useful to use both thinking processes but the end result always has to be logically sound. This is where brainstorming/mind storming comes in where one writes a list of creative solutions but selects one that can be realistically achieved. Most importantly when achieving a task the outcome feels rewarding. The “reward” has some correlation to an ingenious mind since the outcome appears to be prominent.
Some things to consider doing:
- Get Quality Rest.
- Minimize Digital Use.
- Meditate.
- Spend time outdoors.
- Consume whole foods especially consuming enough quality protein daily.
- Conduct Brainstorming or mind storming sessions (Check out this source).
- Yoga (If unsure what kind of poses to do, try these out: 6 Super Brain Yoga Exercises to Boost Your Gray Matter).
- Journaling (Pen and paper would be ideal).
- Exercise.
- Intermittent fasting.
- Take short breaks frequently.
Conclusion
All in all many have aspirations to achieve many goals. However, what must be prepared is the mind and what approaches to better support the person to do it efficiently. The purpose of this is to keep one balanced, so they would have the ability to be creative. Other than having the intent of accomplishing a task. One must involve themselves in proper practices such as a healthy diet, stress management, and engage in one task at a time. The inner environment has more value than the outcome of the goal. Since intelligence depends on how the body is treated to provide a winning process to the objective.
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