How to efficiently exercise your brain using words.

 

              

Introduction:

    You have always heard people saying that “choose your words wisely”. I have never taken this advice seriously until I came to know how useful this advice is and how deep meaning it has in our lives. Do you ever think about how words affect our brains and how bad words may malfunction our thinking and badly damage our frontal lobe(the area which controls speech, memory, and other important functions)? In this article we are going to discuss how negative words affect our brain and how by using more positive words we can increase our brain capability.

The function of the Frontal Lobe:

                       The frontal lobe is crucial for regulating higher executive functions, expressive language, and voluntary movement. The frontal lobe of the brain mainly controls:

• Thinking

• Short term memory

• Organizing

• Planning

• Problem-solving

• Movement

The words we speak to others or even speak to ourselves have a great impact on our frontal lobe which in turn has a great significance on how we think. 

How Do Negative Words Hinder Brain function?

                             Sometimes we use negative words like “I can’t or I didn’t have the courage to do this”. These words might seems less important to us at that moment but they have a great impact on the functioning of our brain. By using a single harsh word our amygdala(the part of the brain which experiences emotions) becomes more active. When our brain listens to a negative word The Amygdala experiences a negative emotion which in turn releases numerous stress-inducing hormones and neurotransmitters as a result, which hinders brain function.

Speaking or listening to negative words led us to act irrationally:

                        Angry comments that are negative cause far more harm. They cause the frontal lobe's decision-making centers to malfunction by sending alarm messages through the brain, which makes people more likely to act irrationally. So, speaking an angry comment even to yourself can make you act irrationally and you are more directed towards experiencing anxiety.

The illusion of fear words:

                        Words that evoke fear, such as "poor," "disease," and "death," can negatively excite the brain. And even if these frightful thoughts are unfounded, other brain regions (such as the thalamus and amygdala) respond to unfavorable fantasies as if they were real dangers present in the outer world. We have an odd tendency to worry; it may be a throwback from earlier generations when there were several dangers to our survival.

How can we modify our Perceptions?

                       We may modify our perceptions of ourselves and the world surrounding us by consistently thinking and speaking positively. The potential to mold our reality and improve the world is ultimately given to us by this concept.

“By holding a positive and optimistic [word] in your mind, you stimulate frontal lobe activity.      This area includes specific language centers that connect directly to the motor cortex responsible for moving you into action. And as our research has shown, the longer you concentrate on positive words, the more you begin to affect other areas of the brain.”

~Newburg, Waldman

How can positive language stimulate the release of oxytocin?

                     The release of oxytocin, a neurochemical that creates a sense of safety, kinship, and wellbeing, can be increased by using positive language. Additionally, positive interactions and remarks trigger a chemical reaction. They stimulate prefrontal cortical networks to boost oxytocin production, which enhances our potential for interpersonal trust, cooperation, and communication.

Conclusion:

                    By speaking or listening to negative words activates our amygdala which in turn creates negative emotion. This negative emotion can drive us towards anxiety and stress. Thinking about positive words and thoughts increases the production of oxytocin which makes us more cooperative and positive. So choosing our words wisely is not simply just a saying, it has a lot to do with our thinking and has a great effect on the working of our brain.