My Dad. Super smart.
(I was adopted.)
The word cognitive is quite broad. According to our smart uncle Wikipedia the word cognitive refers to the brain's ability to do any of the following:
Memory, association, concept formation, language, attention, perception, action, problem solving and mental imagery.
Whether you're learning how to move better or learning mathematics or French or whatever, the processes are similar. Both involve physical change within the brain. Both happen in the 1 to 3 mm cortex of the brain, and both involve repetitive challenging practice. There is no separation between "cognitive" and "motor learning."
But Wikipedia has it wrong, or rather, incomplete. Movement and cognition are inexorably linked. There is a term for it: Motor cognition. People say, that's impossible. Movement is what dumb jocks do. But, again, motor learning is learning, and motor cognition is cognitive. Ironically, Wikipedia has a page on motor cognition.
I have another entry where I argue that great athletes have great minds. It involves the great Jim Thorpe, so you know its good.
I think what most people are talking about when they talk about cognitive function is the ability to think clearly. What is it that they say about intelligence? It's is the ability to keep two thoughts in your head at the same time-- something like that. I think a lot of stroke survivors lament the loss of part of their ability to think. Unfortunately, many people assume that stroke survivors necessarily have lost mental capacity. But, of course, many have not. I can't tell you how many people I know that have had a stroke and they're still smarter than me. "Unfair!" I might yelp if I was petty, which I'm not. (Unfair!)
So what can one do to develop an increase in, let's call it, "intellectual capacity"? It may very well be video gaming. There are many in physical rehabilitation who love the idea of using the Wii for physical rehab. They call it Wiihabilitation, because, cute. There's actually some serious questions about whether these games actually help physical recovery. But can gaming help you remember where you put your keys? Can it help you "keep two thoughts in your head at the same time"? It turns out it can.In fact, there's a game that aims to do exactly that. It's call the N-Back. Find the actual game here.
NOTE: Some games don't work at all. Find my take on Lumosity here. Gaming may not be the best way to boost cognition.
I think what most people are talking about when they talk about cognitive function is the ability to think clearly. What is it that they say about intelligence? It's is the ability to keep two thoughts in your head at the same time-- something like that. I think a lot of stroke survivors lament the loss of part of their ability to think. Unfortunately, many people assume that stroke survivors necessarily have lost mental capacity. But, of course, many have not. I can't tell you how many people I know that have had a stroke and they're still smarter than me. "Unfair!" I might yelp if I was petty, which I'm not. (Unfair!)
So what can one do to develop an increase in, let's call it, "intellectual capacity"? It may very well be video gaming. There are many in physical rehabilitation who love the idea of using the Wii for physical rehab. They call it Wiihabilitation, because, cute. There's actually some serious questions about whether these games actually help physical recovery. But can gaming help you remember where you put your keys? Can it help you "keep two thoughts in your head at the same time"? It turns out it can.In fact, there's a game that aims to do exactly that. It's call the N-Back. Find the actual game here.
NOTE: Some games don't work at all. Find my take on Lumosity here. Gaming may not be the best way to boost cognition.
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