Comments on: Exercise On the Brain: a NYT OpEd http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/11/08/exercise-on-the-brain-a-nyt-oped/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=exercise-on-the-brain-a-nyt-oped Neuroplasticity, Brain Fitness and Cognitive Health News Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:53:26 +0000 hourly 1 By: » Physical and Mental Exercise: Why Pitch One Against the other?   « Brain Fitness Revolution at SharpBrains      http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/11/08/exercise-on-the-brain-a-nyt-oped/comment-page-1/#comment-109604 » Physical and Mental Exercise: Why Pitch One Against the other?   « Brain Fitness Revolution at SharpBrains      Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:10:18 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/11/08/exercise-on-the-brain-a-nyt-oped/#comment-109604 [...] Reader Theresa Cerulli just forwarded this Letter to the Editor that she had sent to the New York Times and went unpublished. The letter addresses the OpEd mentioned here (pitching physical vs. mental exercise), and refers to the Cogmed working memory training program, whose results have been studied in multiple papers published in top medical and scientific journals. [...] […] Reader Theresa Cerulli just forwarded this Letter to the Editor that she had sent to the New York Times and went unpublished. The letter addresses the OpEd mentioned here (pitching physical vs. mental exercise), and refers to the Cogmed working memory training program, whose results have been studied in multiple papers published in top medical and scientific journals. […]

]]> By: Ramesh Raghuvanshi http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/11/08/exercise-on-the-brain-a-nyt-oped/comment-page-1/#comment-105968 Ramesh Raghuvanshi Mon, 03 Dec 2007 04:07:03 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/11/08/exercise-on-the-brain-a-nyt-oped/#comment-105968 For mental and physical health ancient Hindu saga Given us a valuable proverb== Reduce your food half, double your drinking water, triple physical and mental exercises and increase joy in your life four time. This remedy is very useful for a good lifestyle. For mental and physical health ancient Hindu saga Given us a valuable proverb== Reduce your food half, double your drinking water, triple physical and mental exercises and increase joy in your life four time. This remedy is very useful for a good lifestyle.

]]> By: » Brain Fitness: November Monthly Digest   « Brain Fitness Revolution at SharpBrains      http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/11/08/exercise-on-the-brain-a-nyt-oped/comment-page-1/#comment-104816 » Brain Fitness: November Monthly Digest   « Brain Fitness Revolution at SharpBrains      Fri, 30 Nov 2007 21:59:02 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/11/08/exercise-on-the-brain-a-nyt-oped/#comment-104816 [...] Exercise On the Brain: a NYT OpEd: a widely read opinion piece in the New York Times, written by 2 neuroscientists, that somehow seems to miss the research behind the value of mental stimulation and cognitive training. Other neuroscience teams and us write letters to the editor that go unpublished. Should you have any contacts with journalists, please ask them to contact us: we are always happy to serve as a resource to the media. [...] […] Exercise On the Brain: a NYT OpEd: a widely read opinion piece in the New York Times, written by 2 neuroscientists, that somehow seems to miss the research behind the value of mental stimulation and cognitive training. Other neuroscience teams and us write letters to the editor that go unpublished. Should you have any contacts with journalists, please ask them to contact us: we are always happy to serve as a resource to the media. […]

]]> By: Alvaro http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/11/08/exercise-on-the-brain-a-nyt-oped/comment-page-1/#comment-91425 Alvaro Mon, 12 Nov 2007 19:01:05 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/11/08/exercise-on-the-brain-a-nyt-oped/#comment-91425 Thank you, School Psych. That is a great book. The value of lifelong learning and mental stimulation is well beyond doubt, it is a bit of a mystery to me why the authors of that OpEd wanted to focus solely on the value of physical exercise. Thank you, School Psych. That is a great book. The value of lifelong learning and mental stimulation is well beyond doubt, it is a bit of a mystery to me why the authors of that OpEd wanted to focus solely on the value of physical exercise.

]]> By: School Psych http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/11/08/exercise-on-the-brain-a-nyt-oped/comment-page-1/#comment-89857 School Psych Sat, 10 Nov 2007 23:40:46 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/11/08/exercise-on-the-brain-a-nyt-oped/#comment-89857 A great little book (entitled 'Neurobics' written by Lawrence Katz, Ph.D.) synthesizes the substantial findings about the brain on keeping it fit and flexible. Here's a quote: "Scientific research has repeatedly proved that social deprivation has severe negative effects on overall cognitive abilities. The ongoing MacArthur Foundation projects validate keeping active socially and mentally as critical factors for mental health." Great site, by the way. A great little book (entitled ‘Neurobics’ written by Lawrence Katz, Ph.D.) synthesizes the substantial findings about the brain on keeping it fit and flexible. Here’s a quote: “Scientific research has repeatedly proved that social deprivation has severe negative effects on overall cognitive abilities. The ongoing MacArthur Foundation projects validate keeping active socially and mentally as critical factors for mental health.”

Great site, by the way.

]]> By: Alvaro http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/11/08/exercise-on-the-brain-a-nyt-oped/comment-page-1/#comment-89617 Alvaro Sat, 10 Nov 2007 18:38:24 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/11/08/exercise-on-the-brain-a-nyt-oped/#comment-89617 Hello Alimary and John, Alimary: Thanks, I couldn't have said it better. John: thanks for your great blog. Yes, that is a constant challenge given how busy journalists are and also how overspecialized scientists have become, experts in their narrow fields and not helping readers integrate new findings into existing ones. There is much need for more interdisciplinary research AND better health Education. Hello Alimary and John,

Alimary: Thanks, I couldn’t have said it better.

John: thanks for your great blog. Yes, that is a constant challenge given how busy journalists are and also how overspecialized scientists have become, experts in their narrow fields and not helping readers integrate new findings into existing ones. There is much need for more interdisciplinary research AND better health Education.

]]> By: John Rice http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/11/08/exercise-on-the-brain-a-nyt-oped/comment-page-1/#comment-89514 John Rice Sat, 10 Nov 2007 16:02:48 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/11/08/exercise-on-the-brain-a-nyt-oped/#comment-89514 Congrats on keeping an eye out for info like this that needs clarification. While many journalists in general do a good job relaying the facts, many times important ideas and facts are condensed or portrayed out of context. It seems like this is an ongoing issue, especially with news articles detailing research and opinion among scientists. Congrats on keeping an eye out for info like this that needs clarification. While many journalists in general do a good job relaying the facts, many times important ideas and facts are condensed or portrayed out of context. It seems like this is an ongoing issue, especially with news articles detailing research and opinion among scientists.

]]> By: alimary http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/11/08/exercise-on-the-brain-a-nyt-oped/comment-page-1/#comment-88944 alimary Fri, 09 Nov 2007 20:32:28 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/11/08/exercise-on-the-brain-a-nyt-oped/#comment-88944 I am so glad to see more connection with physical AND mental. So many concentrate on diet and exercise, leaving out one very important aspect that supports the first 2, our mind! Our mind is what supports and motivates us to begin and follow through with diet and exercie. It controls our focus. I am so glad to see more connection with physical AND mental. So many concentrate on diet and exercise, leaving out one very important aspect that supports the first 2, our mind! Our mind is what supports and motivates us to begin and follow through with diet and exercie. It controls our focus.

]]> By: Alvaro http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/11/08/exercise-on-the-brain-a-nyt-oped/comment-page-1/#comment-88923 Alvaro Fri, 09 Nov 2007 19:29:27 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/11/08/exercise-on-the-brain-a-nyt-oped/#comment-88923 Hello Keith, we can't share it until (if) it is published. The basic point is that, as good as physical exercise is, it is not the only or main element to think of, so the OpEd provides very partial advice, at least. We also mention that over 40 million in the US already belong to a health club, and millions more do walk often, so the value of the advice for them is pretty limited, vs. other areas (stress management, mental stimulation) that can be more relevant. There will be more scientific data published over the next weeks that puts the "debate" in a better perspective. I think the basic problem is a confusion over what we are talking about: training of specific cognitive skills vs. a generic "brain health". Hello Keith, we can’t share it until (if) it is published. The basic point is that, as good as physical exercise is, it is not the only or main element to think of, so the OpEd provides very partial advice, at least.

We also mention that over 40 million in the US already belong to a health club, and millions more do walk often, so the value of the advice for them is pretty limited, vs. other areas (stress management, mental stimulation) that can be more relevant.

There will be more scientific data published over the next weeks that puts the “debate” in a better perspective. I think the basic problem is a confusion over what we are talking about: training of specific cognitive skills vs. a generic “brain health”.

]]> By: KeithS http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/11/08/exercise-on-the-brain-a-nyt-oped/comment-page-1/#comment-88754 KeithS Fri, 09 Nov 2007 12:37:42 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/11/08/exercise-on-the-brain-a-nyt-oped/#comment-88754 Could we see that letter to the editor that you guys wrote? Could we see that letter to the editor that you guys wrote?

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