If you have ever lifted a weight, you know the routine: challenge the muscle, give it rest, feed it and repeat. Over time, it grows stronger.Of course, muscles only grow when the challenge increases over time. Continually lifting the same weight the same way stops working.It might come as a surprise to learn that the brain responds to training in much the same way as our muscles, even though most of us never think about it that way. Clear thinking, focus, creativity and good judgment are built through challenge, when the brain is asked to stretch beyond routine rather than run on autopilot. That slight mental discomfort is often the sign that the brain is actually being trained, a lot like that good workout burn in your muscles.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThink about walking the same loop through a local park every day. At first, your senses are alert. You notice the hills, the trees, the changing light. But after a few loops, your brain checks out. You start planning dinner, replaying emails or running through your to-do list. The walk still feels good, but your brain is no longer being challenged.Routine feels comfortable, but comfort and familiarity alone do not build new brain connections.As a neurologist who studies brain activity, I use electroencephalograms, or EEGs, to record the brain’s electrical patterns.Research in humans shows that these rhythms are remarkably dynamic. When someone learns a new skill, EEG rhythms often become more organized and coordinated. This reflects the brain’s attempt to strengthen pathways needed for that skill.Your brain trains in zones tooFor decades, scientists believed that the brain’s ability to grow and re …
