Brain Fitness: An Instructor's Manual of 150 Exercises for People with Low to High Cognitive Functionhe brain is the most complex part of the human body. It is the center of intelligence, interprets senses, controls behavior, and initiates body movement. The adult human brain weighs about three pounds is composed of one hundred billion to one trillion neurons. Neurons are specialized cells that use electrical signals to transmit information to other nerve cells, glands, or muscle cells. It is the primary functional unit of the brain. All movement, thoughts, senses, memories, and feelings are the result of signals that pass through these neurons. Attached to the neuron are short, finger-like protuberances called dendrites. Messages are passed from neuron to neuron through the dendrites. Scientists now believe that the brain is able to grow new dendrites and neurons. This is the basis of the Brain Fitness exercises, which were tested over a two-year period by older adults in Port Charlotte, Florida. The brain-stimulating, challenging, novel-enriched activities in Brain Fitness can benefit anyone — regardless of age or cognitive ability. |
Common terms and phrases
ˆ ˆ ˆ Abstraction Cognitive Functioning activity alphabet Ask participants Ask the participants Body Awareness Brain Fitness Brain Fitness Exercise cards chopsticks Clairol clothespin color Communication Cognitive Functioning Coordination Cognitive Functioning copy cotton ball Crossing the Midline dashed valley Executive Functioning Cognitive Exercise Type face Fold following questions Functioning Cognitive Functioning going guess High Materials Needed high-functioning participants index fingers Ink Spots Language and Communication left hand left-brainer Leisure Letter Song letters levels Materials Needed Low to Moderate low-functioning participants Memory Cognitive Functioning Midline Cognitive Functioning Moderate Materials Needed Moderate to High Motor Function NATO Phonetic Alphabet Origami participant Method participants read participants the following participants write pencils Method pens or pencils person pick-up sticks play Player POPEYE Provide each participant remember right hand right-brain scissors Sensory Cognitive Functioning smell Spatial Cognitive Functioning Tantrix toothpicks Visual Spatial Cognitive words ÿ ÿ ÿ YES/NO