Many optical illusions fall into the depth and motion perception category.  The way our brains perceive depth and motion is why the interpreted information results in seeing an image that is inconsistent with the actual physical attributes of the object.

The brain uses what it has learned about the world around it to make meaning of new visual input.  This is why we can see depth in two dimensional drawings, our brains are interpreting the clues in the picture to assign depth values.

Photo Source: http://www.coolopticalillusions.com

In the illusion above, the square seems to bow in the middle, yet all the lines are parallel.  Take an index card or sheet of paper with a straight edge and hold it up to the lines, they are all straight and parallel to each other.  The way our brains interpret the added elements of the smaller squares causes us to perceive a sphere in the middle of the square.

Photo Source: http://www.coolopticalillusions.com

In this illusion we perceive a spiral where there are actually concentric circles.  Trace your finger along the lines, and you will see that there are circles, not a spiral.  There are several factors at play here.  One is the interplay of the colors of the circles and the diamonds, this gives the impression that the circles are not continuous lines.   The other is the interplay of the circles, the diamonds, and the vanishing point (the circle in the middle), this gives the impression of the image moving towards the center.  The combination creates the illusion of a spiral.

Photo Source: http://www.coolopticalillusions.com

How do you perceive the long black lines?  Are they parallel to each other?  While our brain interprets the lines as not being parallel because of the additional lines, the long lines are in fact parallel.  Measure the distance between several points between the lines, the measurements don’t change.

Photo Source: http://www.coolopticalillusions.com

Are the red lines straight or bent?  Which one has more curve to it?  Actually, not only are both lines perfectly straight, they are also parallel.  Because of the way we perceive lines to a vanishing point as distance, our perception of the red lines is altered.

Looking at optical illusions and trying to see the elements that create them is a great way to exercise your brain and teach it to expand its perceptions.

We know that as we age our bodies change.  We also know that some people “age better” than others, they look like they are 30 when they are 45 for example.  Did you know that these two facts are also true for our brains?

As we age, our ability to remember, learn, and process information decreases.  On a very basic level, out brains work by sending signals to the right place at the right time.  As we age, the speed of these signals slow down.  Just like out bodies, this change is different for everyone.  A person who is 50 can have a brain age of 30 while a person who is 35 could have a brain age of 55.

What’s your brain age?  Here are two quick tests to give you an idea.  The first brain age test test quickly you can respond correctly to stimulus.  You will be told what key to strike when you see a particular word or number on the screen, the score is based on speed and accuracy of your keystrokes.  The second brain age test tests your short term memory.  Numbers will flash onto the screen, you have to click on the circles that take their place in order from lowest to highest.  As soon as you click an incorrect circle you are shown what the right answer was and the next set comes up.  The score is based on accuracy.

We can keep our bodies looking younger than we are through healthy living and exercise, our brains are no exception!

Eating foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids will supply our brains with much needed nutrients.  Avoiding substances that are proven to be harmful to the brain will also keep it young.  The brain needs to be well hydrated to work properly, so drinking plenty of water is a simple way to treat your brain right.

Exercising your brain is also important.  This can be very simple, and fun to do.  If you do an internet search for the key words “brain age,” most of the hits will be for the Nintendo DS game.  While this game certainly is a good way to have fun exercising your brain, there are cheaper alternatives.  There are plenty magazines out there full of good brain exercises, Dell Math & Logic Problems for example.  Take a look at the offerings in the checkout line at the grocery store, there may be a brain teaser publication there. Puzzles like crosswords and sudoku puzzles are another good way to exercise your brain.

Just like you don’t have to join a gym to exercise your body, you don’t have to buy anything to exercise your brain.  There are plenty of options online that will provide exercise through brain teasers, optical illusions, and puzzles.  One such site is www.queendom.com.  They have what they call mind-stretchers which are quizzes, puzzles, etc.  When you have completed one, you get your results and you have the option to see the correct answers, so if you got something wrong, you can learn from the mistake.

Regular exercise and a healthy diet can keep your brain young!  I am 33 and I scored a 43 on the first brain age test and a 33 on the second brain age test.  I am going to keep exercising my brain and see if I can’t improve those scores!  I’d be interested to hear how others did and if they were able to improve their brain ages.

This is the first of a weekly installment.  Each Monday a new Brain Teaser will be posted.  On Wednesday, a hint on solving the Brain Teaser will be added to the post.  On Friday, the solution will be posted with an explanation.  If you found a different way to solve it, please feel free to post a comment with how you found your way of solving it!

Let the games begin!

Each row uses the same formula and has the same final answer.

7    4    8

3    9    7

6    5    10

?    8    4

What is the missing number?

Stumped?

Here’s a hint - the formula’s solution for each row is 20.

The answer: 3

7  x  4   - 8 = 20

3  x  9  -  7 = 20

6  x  5  -  10 = 20

?  x  8  -  4 = 20

To find the missing number:

20 + 4 = 24

24/8 = 3

We know that there are differences between right side dominated brain function and left side dominated brain functions. One difference is the left side of the brain processes things in a linear manner. Processing from parts to whole they take the information line it up in their type of logical order and then draw a conclusion.

The right side however, processes information the opposite way from whole to parts. Right side thinkers need to see the big picture before they truly can understand. For example a predominantly right sided user will write an outline of a report after writing the actual report because this way it is easier for them to break it down into parts.

The left brain processes in a sequence and is a list maker. Left brained people enjoy daily planning you complete jobs in order and get excited as they begin crossing off each one. Left brainers are also usually good spellers because of the linear learning example.

The right brained people are the total opposite…they flutter from one task to another not paying much attention to deadlines and details. They will get the job finished, and finished well but not necessarily on time.

The left brain doesn’t have a problem processing symbols. Left brained people feel more comfortable with mathematical and linguistics where the right brained person bases answer on intuition.

Left brained people do not have any trouble expressing themselves with words. Right sided ones know exactly what they want to say but can’t find the right words at the right time. 

So, we know that left brained individuals and right brained individuals have different thought patterns and learning patterns which means that not only should you exercise the dominant side but you also want to exercise the non-dominant side. This way your will be able to think with both sides and will have a stronger memory.

Below is an example of an ambiguous illusion.  There are two images, but the brain cannot perceive both simultaneously.  To see each of the images, you have to switch between the two interpretations.

Picture Source: http://www.qualitytrading.com

What do you see?

Two faces?  A goblet?

The brain’s experience on how to perceive the world influences how it interprets signals sent from the eyes.  Some basic conceptions on how to interpret visual data are:

> light comes from above an object
> faces are perceived upright
> objects are viewed from above, not below

Picture Source: http://www.qualitytrading.com

What do you see?

A face?  Or the word “Liar?”

Being able to switch between the two images in figure-ground illusions like these requires changing the preconceptions the brain is using to interpret the information, or to change how you are thinking about what you are seeing.

Picture Source: http://www.qualitytrading.com

What do you see?

Leave a comment and let people know how you perceive this image.

According to scientists, our brains like our bodies can starve for the right nutrients. A well balanced diet can aide your memory and your general intelligence performance. Most important for brain function is Omega-3 fatty acids which is made up of two specific fatty acids… DHA and EPA. DHA is the most important element in brain chemistry which must be supplied to the body by the Omega-3 fatty acids.  Unlike other nutrients, our bodies cannot produce Omega-3 fatty acids, which means they must be obtained through food.

Since the matter of our brains is mostly fat, building it with the right kind of fat is important.  The need for Omega-3 fatty acids begins at conception.  Infants who do not get sufficient levels of Omega-3 fatty acid are susceptible to nerve and vision problems.   If the Omega-3 fatty acid deficiency continues, other effects can include fatigue, moodiness, and poor memory.  Pregnant women need to be careful where they get their Omega-3 fatty acids, however, many of the fish that are rich in this vital nutrient are also considered unsafe to east during pregnancy.

Some studies even show a relationship between consuming Omega-3 fatty acids and behavior improvements in children diagnosed with ADHD.  The Omega-3 fatty acids increase brain chemicals like dopamine and serotonin, which help with attention span and motivation.  The dopemine and seratonin receptors in the brain are made up of DHA, on of the Omega-3 fatty acids.  If the body doesn’t have enough to pull from to maintain these receptors, then it will pull from any trans-fat that has been consumed.  The trans-fat is not the right material and as a result the receptors will not function properly, affecting the processing of the dopamine and sertonin.  It would be like trying to replace missing Legos with Lincoln Logs.

Omega-3 fatty acids has an effect on more than just the brain.  Here is a list of other symptoms that can be caused by an Omega-3 fatty acid deficiency:

• Attention Deficiencies
• Cracked Skin
• Dandruff
• Dry Skin
• Fatigue
• Hyperactivity
• Immunity Deficiencies
• Irritability
• Learning Difficulties
• Soft or Brittle Finger Nails

The American Heart Association recommends eating Omega-3 fatty acid rich fish two times a week.  Fish that can supply Omega 3 fatty acids include…

• Halibut
• Herring
• Mackerel
• Salmon
• Shrimp
• Snapper
• Tuna (albacore)

Fish are not the only source of Omega-3 fatty acids.  There are supplements available, you should always consult your physician before adding supplements t your diet to guard against interactions with other medications you may be taking.  Other sources of Omega-3 fatty acids include:

• Flaxseed
• Soybeans
• Spinach
• Tofu
• Walnuts

So just like eating right to maintain a healthy body, eating right also maintains a healthy brain.  The cornerstone of a brain-healthy diet are Omega-3 fatty acids.

Just like the rest of our body our brains need care too. Scientific research has proven that we can improve the overall health and function of our brains with mental workouts. We workout at the gym to strengthen our bodies and keep it healthy and now we know that our brains need workouts too to strengthen and keep it healthy.

Lumosity.com offers brain training that was designed by professionals of neuroscience and cognitive psychology from Stanford and UCSF. Using Lumosity has been shown to improve cognitive function, memory and attention level. Users have reported clearer thinking, improved memory of names, numbers, directions, etc, increased alertness and awareness, elevated mood, and better concentration.

Lumosity.com states that their training has been shown to improve memory and attention, Gives detailed feedback and improvement tracking,Is fun and easy with full workouts in less than 10 minutes, and Less than 30 seconds to get started… best of all you can try it all for free! So go visit, give it a try and see if you see a difference in the way your brain functions.

Lumosity uses a Brain Performance Index (BPI) tp measure and track your performance.  Your BPI is calculated as you play the training games.  You can compare your BPI to others your age as well as your past performance on that skill or your performance between skills.  Unlike brain age where you want a lower number, the higher your BPI the better.

Lumosity.com gives you an overall BPI which is an average of your BPI scores in each of the fuve cognitive areas that Lumosity trains: attention, flexibility, memory, problem solving, and speed.  As you complete training games in each of these areas, your BPI is updated, giving you an accurate representation of where you are strongest and where more work is needed.

Other features offered by Lumosity are Twitter and Facebook updates and iPhone apps.  If you have a Twitter account, you can sign up to follow Lumosity and get Tweets about new games, special offers, and upcoming features.  If you have a Facebook page, Lumosity has brain games availble to Facebook members.   For those of you that have an iPhone, Lumosity has released an app for one of their games - Brain Speed - with others sure to follow.

You can try out Lumosity with a free trial.  There is a subscription fee,  for continued use with discounts for purchasing a 1- or 2- year subscription.  You do not have to supply any payment information to get the free trial.  The free trial is currently 7 days, plenty of time to see if this is a subscription you would enjoy having.

Any teacher will tell you, when skills are taught in isolation and not practiced there is very little chance that the skill will be mastered.  This is one of the reasons why homework is so important.  It makes students practice a new skill in a new setting, which increases the likelihood of the student mastering the skill.

Many educators and education experts recommend that homework, or skills practice, should be done no sooner than 2 to 3 hours after the skill has been initially introduced. This is because long term memories begin to form within this time frame.  Activating prior knowledge makes any skill practice more effective, and building on a forming long term memory is a way of activating prior knowledge.

One way to help bring new skills out of isolation is to practice them in ways that are different than the way they were taught and have been practiced in the past.  For example, if a child is learning addition and has been practicing on worksheets that have lists of addition sentences to complete, having them use flash cards or play a game that uses addition is a great way to take the skill off the paper and bring it into the real world.

We all know that we learn something new faster when we are enjoying what we are doing.  This is equally true of basic skills for children.  They are more likely to learn it faster and master it better if they are able to have some fun with it.  If they dread the practice, they will resist learning the skill.

Positive feedback is another key component to learning a new skill - if you don’t know you are doing it right, you are less likely to trust what you know.  It is also important for children to know that what they are doing matters.  If the parents or teachers don’t care, why should the child?  Offering praise and encouragement as a skill is being learned helps the child develop the confidence needed to turn a short term memory into a long term memory, thereby creating a lifelong skill.

www.funbrain.com has many online games that are also skills practice.  The difficulty levels can be adjusted as the child improves, and many of the games also include a problem solving, reasoning, or critical thinking component as well.  As children play the games, they are enjoying what they are doing and seeing that the new skill isn’t only useful in the classroom.  The games are also self-correcting, the child knows right away if their response was right or wrong.  This gives the opportunity to learn from mistakes and to commit correct information to their long term memories.  Children have the opportunity to share their accomplishments on the site with others through email, which helps provide that social support for academic skills.

When we are young our brains are learning many new things, storing tons of information as we develop lifelong skills. As we age our brain continues to grow and improve and we can help it along with brain exercises. The following is a list of Brain exercises that can be done just about anywhere at any time…
Switch the hand you are using to control the computer mouse. Use the hand you normally do NOT use.
What do you notice?
Is it harder to be precise and accurate with your motions?
Do you feel like you did when you were first learning to tie your shoelaces?
If you are feeling uncomfortable and awkward don’t worry, your brain is learning a new skill.
Try other neural building and strengthening exercises with everyday movements. Use your opposite hand to brush your teeth, dial the phone or operate the TV remote.
In a fascinating experiment, researchers at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation discovered that a muscle can be strengthened just by thinking about exercising it.
For 12 weeks (five minutes a day, five days per week) a team of 30 healthy young adults imagined either using the muscle of their little finger or of their elbow flexor. Dr. Vinoth Ranganathan and his team asked the participants to think as strongly as they could about moving the muscle being tested, to make the imaginary movement as real as they could.
Compared to a control group – that did no imaginary exercises and showed no strength gains – the little-finger group increased their pinky muscle strength by 35%. The other group increased elbow strength by 13.4%.
What’s more, brain scans taken after the study showed greater and more focused activity in the prefrontal cortex than before. The researchers said strength gains were due to improvements in the brain’s ability to signal muscle.
Pay attention to your breathing. Is it slow and deep,
or quick and shallow? Is your belly expanding and
contracting, or is your chest doing all the work?

As we grow older and we watch as our parents and grandparents age, the worst part about it is watching them forget things. Things that used to mean so much to them, their cherished memories of their childhood, their weddings, the birth of their children, these all will eventually fade away until there is nothing left but an empty mass that used to contain the story of our lives. Many do not realize it but we love with our mind not our actual heart and our soul are in our mind not within our body. Let’s face it our brain is the scrapbook or our lives. When we begin to lose that it can be the scariest thing in the world. I believe I would rather cut off my arms then lose my memory… All those years of proverbial pictures in our minds. Haven’t you ever heard that looking into someone’s eyes is seeing into their soul? What happens when that brain starts to fail, the eyes become glassy and it is as if someone has pulled the shades down from the inside? I have seen enough of the suffering of the one with the disease and the suffering of the ones taking care of their sick loved one. Imagine feeding, bathing, reading to, and loving the same person you married over 50 years ago and who always calls you darling, What sadness would come if he no longer called you darling and worse yet had no idea even who you were. Talk about heartbreak, how devastating that would be

There is hope however, Scientists and Doctors work daily to find a cure for degenerative brain disorders and there are things you can do to slow the process if not stop it in its tracks. All you really have to do is exercise the brain; we exercise our bodies to stay in shape so why shouldn’t we do the same thing to keep our brains in tip-top shape. Simple things like reading, drawing, painting, surfing the net, crossword puzzles, etc. can exercise the brains functions and improve the fate of the brain. Brain teasers and Brain games are also good to keep the brain functioning at the highest level.

There is a website you can visit called Brainbashers it is a free site and a great place to begin to exercise your brain. Trust me, the brain is one organ that we simply cannot live without, yes we may survive physically and need help around the clock so if there is anything that could stop brain death why not begin now before it is too late. So the next time you decide to go jogging, or do sit-ups or go to the gym, remember to also take a trip to your local library and check out a book or two so that you can exercise the brain as well as the body because in truth we need both working in full capacity to live a normal life.