Latest news with #PLOSBiology
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Experts Say This Common Hobby Will Boost Brain Power At Any Age. Here's Why.
A new study found that playing an instrument could be super beneficial for your brain health. The results suggest the brain processes of older folks who play instruments actually act similar to those seen in younger people. Two doctors break down the study and what it means for you. Hint: It's never too late! If eating whole foods, getting good sleep, regular exercise are already in rotation in your longevity arsenal, consider taking up a new instrument. Research that was recently published in the journal PLOS Biology found that the brains of older musicians actually work a lot like younger people's brains. So, should you pull out your dusty old recorder from elementary school to reap all those longevity benefits? Well, neurologists say there's definitely credence to the link between music and good brain health as you age. Here's why that is. Meet the experts: Clifford Segil, DO, is a neurologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, CA; Amit Sachdev, MD, MS, is the medical director in the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University. What did the study find? The study, which was published in PLOS Biology, studied the brains of 74 people with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure their brain activity. Some of the participants were older musicians, others were older folks who didn't play an instrument, and the rest were young non-musicians. Each was asked to identify syllables that were masked by sounds, mimicking a noisy environment. (Why? Well, as we get older, it's usually harder to perceive and process information, including hearing things in loud areas.) The researchers discovered that the brains of older musicians were better able to process speech in the noisy situations compared to older non-musicians. Specifically, their brains mimicked those of younger non-musicians in how they perceived noise. The researchers concluded that people who played instruments had more 'cognitive reserve' that allowed them to better process sounds in a noisy environment. Why is playing an instrument associated with better brain health? The answer to this is not entirely clear. 'In general, advanced education is associated with a diminished risk of decline with memory later in life,' says Amit Sachdev, MD, MS, medical director in the Department of Neurology at Michigan State University. 'We do know that to learn new languages and skills, robust new connections between brain regions must be established. We think that this density of connections help make a brain resilient.' It also takes a lot of brain power to create songs, points out Clifford Segil, DO, a neurologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica. 'The processes in the brain that allow musicians to make music with mixed harmonies, rhythms, and sounds is complex and requires multiple brain region activations to do,' he says. By regularly flexing that skill, you ultimately build up a stronger brain, he explains. If I don't play an instrument, is it too late to start? Nope. Neurologists say you can pick up an instrument any time and still reap the benefits. 'It is never too late to start playing an instrument or singing if we are talking about brain health,' Dr. Segil says. 'The ability to translate a sheet of music into something requires activation of the visual parts or your brain, the auditory parts of the brain, and the association areas of your brain. These can be trained at age 13 or 73 and are healthy your brain at either age.' By the way, Dr. Segil says you don't have to be Taylor Swift or Beyonce to make this flex work for you. "The beautiful brain health reality is playing out of tune or off still will likely increase brain functional connectivity," he says. "Your brain won't know if you are carrying the tune well or bad and will still benefit from making music." What are the other cognitive benefits of playing an instrument? There are actually a ton of cognitive benefits to playing an instrument that go well beyond the longevity-related ones. 'Playing an instrument requires eye hand coordination, eye and ear coordination, and higher processing when adding rhythms to this process,' Dr. Segil says. This means that multiple parts of your brain need to be activated at once to make music—and that's healthy for your brain, he says. Plus, the ability to read music is similar to the ability to read in another language, per Dr. Segil, and reading music or a second language "requires different brain pathway activation than reading in your primary language and therefore is good for brain health.' But of course, Dr. Sachdev warns that you shouldn't force yourself to learn to play an instrument if it's not your thing. 'The most important thing to remember is that you want to pursue it to support your mental health and wellness,' he says. 'It needs to be fun.' Dr. Sachdev points out that you can also just do your brain a solid by socializing with people. And if you happen to do a hobby together with them, even better. 'Pursue your passions, new or old, with a group of like-minded folks,' he says. You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals
GMA Network
02-07-2025
- Health
- GMA Network
Shock study: Mild electric stimulation boosts math ability
WASHINGTON, United States — Struggle with math? A gentle jolt to the brain might help. A new study published Tuesday in PLOS Biology suggests that mild electrical stimulation can boost arithmetic performance -- and offers fresh insight into the brain mechanisms behind mathematical ability, along with a potential way to optimize learning. The findings could eventually help narrow cognitive gaps and help build a more intellectually equitable society, the authors argue. "Different people have different brains, and their brains control a lot in their life," said Roi Cohen Kadosh, a neuroscientist at the University of Surrey who led the research. "We think about the environment -- if you go to the right school, if you have the right teacher -- but it's also our biology." Cohen Kadosh and colleagues recruited 72 University of Oxford students, scanning their brains to measure connectivity between three key regions. Participants then tackled math problems that required either calculating answers or recalling memorized solutions. They found that stronger connections between the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which governs executive function, and the posterior parietal cortex, involved in memory, predicted better calculation performance. When the researchers applied a painless form of brain stimulation using electrode-fitted caps -- a technique known as transcranial random noise stimulation -- the low performers saw their scores jump by 25–29%. The team believes the stimulation works by enhancing the excitability of neurons and interacting with GABA, a brain chemical that inhibits excessive activity -- effectively compensating for weak neural connectivity in some participants. In fact, the stimulation helped underperformers reach or even surpass the scores of peers with naturally stronger brain wiring. But those who already performed well saw no benefit. "Some people struggle with things, and if we can help their brain to fulfill their potential, we open them a lot of opportunities that otherwise would be closed," said Cohen Kadosh, calling it an "exciting time" for the field of brain stimulation research. Still, he flagged a key ethical concern: the risk that such technologies could become more available to those with financial means, widening -- rather than closing -- access gaps. He also urged the public not to try this at home. "Some people struggle with learning, and if our research proves successful beyond the lab, we could help them fulfill their ambitions and unlock opportunities that might otherwise remain out of reach." — Agence France-Presse
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Struggling with maths? Study says this brain hack could help you solve problems faster and better
A University of Surrey study reveals that gentle electric currents applied to the brain enhance maths skills in young adults. The technique, transcranial random noise stimulation, targets the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, improving learning and focus. Participants with weaker brain connections showed significant improvement with stimulation, suggesting a potential new approach to support learning. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What did the study find? 24 received stimulation to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, 24 had stimulation to the posterior parietal cortex (an area involved in processing sensory information), 24 received a fake (placebo) treatment. How does it work? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A new study from the University of Surrey, UK, has found that applying gentle electric currents to the brain can help young adults solve maths problems better and used a technique called transcranial random noise stimulation , which involves sending weak, safe electric currents through the scalp to a part of the brain known as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex . This area, located behind the forehead, plays a key role in learning, memory, and study involved 72 participants aged between 18 and 30. They took part in a five-day maths training programme. Out of these:The results showed that those with weak natural connections between the two brain regions, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the posterior parietal cortex, improved significantly when given brain stimulation. Those with strong natural connections performed well even without scans revealed that people with better brain connectivity in these regions performed better in maths. The stimulation appeared to help people with weaker brain links catch up. Improvements were also linked to lower levels of a brain chemical called GABA, which helps with learning and memory by stabilising new researcher Roi Cohen Kadosh said that while most education systems focus on things like better teaching and updated curricula, the brain's biology is often ignored. 'By understanding how the brain works during learning, we can develop new methods to support more people in reaching their potential,' he study, published in PLOS Biology, adds to growing research on how brain stimulation could be used safely to support learning, especially in key subjects like from PTI
India Today
02-07-2025
- Health
- India Today
Can zapping your brain with electricity improve math skills? Yes
Are you also afraid of algebra, trigonometry and geometry? Well, scientiests have found a new way to enhance math skills - zapping your brain with electricity.A recent study published in PLOS Biology reveals that a painless, non-invasive brain stimulation method can significantly enhance math learning in young adults, especially those who struggle due to how their brain regions is a critical skill for many careers in science, technology, engineering, and finance. Yet, a 2016 OECD report found that nearly a quarter to a third of adults in developed countries have math skills comparable to a seven-year-old. This lack of numeracy is linked to lower income, poorer health, reduced political engagement, and diminished social Educational gaps often widen over time — a phenomenon called the Matthew effect — where students who start ahead continue to outperform their peers. While socioeconomic factors and motivation play roles, biological factors such as genetics, brain connectivity, and chemical signalling have been shown to strongly influence learning outcomes, including in investigate this, researchers recruited 72 young adults aged 18 to 30 and taught them new math calculation techniques over five days. Some participants received a placebo, while others underwent transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS), a gentle electrical current applied non-invasively to the brain. Believe it or not, the fear of math is real- and it's got a name: math anxiety. (Photo: Getty) advertisementThe stimulation was targeted to either the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (involved in memory and attention during learning) or the posterior parietal cortex (important for processing math after learning).Brain scans and neurochemical measurements, including levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), were taken before and after training. Participants with weaker natural connectivity between the prefrontal and parietal regions — typically linked to poorer learning — showed significant improvement when tRNS was applied over the prefrontal cortex, effectively helping them catch up with peers who had stronger brain mechanism behind this improvement may be 'stochastic resonance,' where adding a small amount of random noise helps weak neural signals become clearer, boosting underperforming neurons closer to their activation tRNS does not enhance already strong learners but helps level the playing field, offering a promising tool to reduce educational inequalities rooted in brain the study focused on healthy university students, similar benefits have been observed in children with math learning disabilities and breakthrough suggests a future where personalised, brain-based interventions complement traditional education, helping learners overcome biological barriers while continuing to address social and systemic challenges.- EndsMust Watch
Malay Mail
02-07-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
Struggling with math? Study shows a gentle electric jolt boosts arithmetic by up to 29pc — but only for some
WASHINGTON, July 2 — Struggle with math? A gentle jolt to the brain might help. A new study published yesterday in PLOS Biology suggests that mild electrical stimulation can boost arithmetic performance — and offers fresh insight into the brain mechanisms behind mathematical ability, along with a potential way to optimise learning. The findings could eventually help narrow cognitive gaps and help build a more intellectually equitable society, the authors argue. 'Different people have different brains, and their brains control a lot in their life,' said Roi Cohen Kadosh, a neuroscientist at the University of Surrey who led the research. 'We think about the environment — if you go to the right school, if you have the right teacher — but it's also our biology.' Cohen Kadosh and colleagues recruited 72 University of Oxford students, scanning their brains to measure connectivity between three key regions. Participants then tackled math problems that required either calculating answers or recalling memorised solutions. They found that stronger connections between the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which governs executive function, and the posterior parietal cortex, involved in memory, predicted better calculation performance. When the researchers applied a painless form of brain stimulation using electrode-fitted caps — a technique known as transcranial random noise stimulation — the low performers saw their scores jump by 25-29 per cent. The team believes the stimulation works by enhancing the excitability of neurons and interacting with GABA, a brain chemical that inhibits excessive activity — effectively compensating for weak neural connectivity in some participants. In fact, the stimulation helped underperformers reach or even surpass the scores of peers with naturally stronger brain wiring. But those who already performed well saw no benefit. 'Some people struggle with things, and if we can help their brain to fulfil their potential, we open them a lot of opportunities that otherwise would be closed,' said Cohen Kadosh, calling it an 'exciting time' for the field of brain stimulation research. Still, he flagged a key ethical concern: the risk that such technologies could become more available to those with financial means, widening — rather than closing — access gaps. He also urged the public not to try this at home. 'Some people struggle with learning, and if our research proves successful beyond the lab, we could help them fulfil their ambitions and unlock opportunities that might otherwise remain out of reach.' — AFP
