“What’s unique about playing an instrument is that it requires a wide array of brain regions and cognitive functions to work together simultaneously, in both right and left hemispheres of the brain,” says Gerontologist Alison Balbag, Ph.D., also a professional harpist.
According to a study by Harvard neurologist Gottfried Schlaug, the brains of adult professional musicians had a larger volume of gray matter than those of nonmusicians. With the kind of pleasure which human naturally cannot do without, playing an instrument, such as the piano helps invoke complex emotions and psychological state that enhance cognitive skills.
Writing.
Just like music, reading fosters your personal development, but writing outperforms it. You only consume while reading, writing requires creativity, persistence and commitment. And this comes with lots of benefits like improvement in the ability to focus.
I take time to blog not only for fun, but writing has consistently been leading me each day to clearer thinking, refining my thoughts with better communication with others.
You can start writing short stories, fictional books, even writing answers to questions online. The more you practice the skill, the better you are doing your overall level of intelligence.
Playing Video Games.
Video games help develop the working memory, which is responsible for holding and processing new and already-stored information.
Playing video game is one of the necessary activities that can be employed to work out the brain, as it helps increase the neuroplasticity and thinking speed.
Playing Chess.
According to a Venezuelan study, this game for the intellectually gifted raises levels of IQ in students, stimulate creativity, improve memory, prevent Alzheimer’s and improves recovery from stroke. The study which was conducted on 4,000 students produced significant rises in the IQ scores of both boys and girls after four months of chess instruction.
Reference:
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M Lotze, G Scheler,. The musician’s brain: functional imaging of amateurs and professionals during performance and imagery. Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioural Neurobiology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany: dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2003.07.018
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Health Fitness Revolution: Top 10 Health Benefits of Chess.
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Karen A., Kay Wilhelm. Emotional and physical health benefits of expressive writing: Advances in Psychiatric Treatment Aug 2005, (5) 338-346; DOI:10.1192/apt.11.5.338
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See Smyth, J. M. (1998). Written emotional expression: Effect sizes, outcome types, and moderating variables.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, Vol. 66 (1), 174-184 for a review of this effect.
