New Puzzle Pages

Brainpower Newsletter

There are three new pages of puzzles on the site. However, these puzzles and riddles were all in this newsletter over the last year, so if you are a long-time subscriber, you'll probably want to skip these. If you subscribed more recently, you can find the new pages here:

http://www.increasebrainpower.com/online-puzzles.html

http://www.increasebrainpower.com/free-puzzles.html

http://www.increasebrainpower.com/word-find-puzzles.html

- The Libyan flag is solid green - and the only solid, single-colored flag of any country.

- Crows have the largest brain (in relation to body size) of all the birds.

- Some bamboo plants can grow three feet (almost a meter) per day.

Depression - Depressed people have lower levels of neurochemicals like serotonin and norepinephrine, which are needed for the hippocampus - the part of the brain that stores and retrieves information. Get professional help if you have continuing depression.

Vitamin B-12 Deficiency - It is estimated that this deficiency causes up to 10% of memory loss cases that aren't Alzheimers-related. B-12 is used to produce myelin - the covering over nerve cells. Poor myelin production can result in slower nerve signal transmission. You can get more b-12 with supplements, or by eating more fish, dairy, eggs and meat. Taking supplements of six micrograms daily is recommended for vegetarians.

Stress - Chronic stress raises the levels of cortisol. This is a hormone that actually improves concentration temporarily, but it also damages the hippocampus, and so eventually the memory and concentration if the levels remain high. To prevent this, learn some simple stress-relieving exercises and use them regularly.

How many English words can you find that have letter combination "uu" in them?

(answer below)

The usual way to remember something is by repetition over time. This is how you finally recall a new phone number or the name of an acquaintance. Want to be sure you remember something? Systematically schedule periodic reviews. The following intervals seem to work well:

Review the information after 10 to 15 minutes.
Review the information the next day.
Review the information the next week.
Review the information a month later.

Are you a lucky person? Answer the following questions as honestly as you can, and then tally your score according to the simple directions at the bottom of the test.
>>> In general, do good things happen to you?

1. Almost never
2. Sometimes
3. Often
4. Very often

>>> Are you doing something you enjoy for a living?

1. No
2. Sort of
3. Yes

>>> Are you generally happy with the relationships you have?

1. No
2. Not sure
3. Yes

Continued here... http://www.increasebrainpower.com/luck-test.html

Mind training is simply putting in place mental habits that make you more effective.

Have you ever wondered why it's easy to negotiate a 3,000-pound car through traffic at 60 mph, but difficult to balance a checking account or find time to do something important? (Insert your own examples if these don't work for you.) It's probably due to your habits of mind.

It isn't actually easy to drive in traffic the first time. It takes all of your concentration. But by automating the actions - training your mind and body, you eventually can drive comfortably in freeway traffic, even while arguing with a talk show host on the radio (try doing that the first time you drive). Your habits have made you more efficient.

Mind Training 101

If you want to creatively solve problems, then, start by cultivating good habits. For example, pick a problem-solving technique, such as "assumption challenging," and use it for three weeks or so. If you..

Continued here:
http://www.999ideas.com/mind-training.html

******************************

Until next time,

Steve

www.IncreaseBrainpower.com

Riddle Answer: There are at least four: Muumuu, vacuum, continuum, and residuum.

Want the latest issues? Subscribe for free on the home page or here: Brainpower Newsletter.