Concentration plays an integral role in our daily accomplishments. Concentration can be defined as the ability of the brain to focus on a task. The brain has different regions such as sensory, parietal, and prefrontal regions that collectively form the concentration system. Three types of focus exist; inner, outer and other focus, all controlled by the brain. The health status of the brain plays a key role in determining the level of concentration. The presentation will also focus on factors that affect concentration levels among individuals. The presentation will integrate how focus is influenced by the brain structure pointing the differences in male and female’s brain. This presentation is influenced by the interview with Dr. Daniel Goleman on “Focus: Why Concentration can Make Your Brain More Powerful” and one with Dr. Daniel Amen on Hormones, Hardwiring and the Female Brain: Balancing Your brain for optimal Health.
Brain Health
The bottom-up and top-down brain is a study that relays on the processing activities of the brain. Bottom - up refers to the fundamental way of how brain is built up from the smallest pieces of sensory information. Top - down refers to the perception that brain is driven by cognition. Neuromdulators such as acetylcholine, dopamine, and norepinephrine are important in focus and attention due to the effects on the different parts of the brain
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Adrenaline, Cortisol and Melatonin are the essential hormones that affect brain health. Inadequate sleep is caused by the absence of melatonin which in turn increases the cortisol hormone classified as a stress hormone. An increase in the stress hormone increases the likelihood of memory loss as well as mental health disorders. A balance in the hormones is critical in the development of a healthy mind. Optimal health of an individual is dependent on the balance of hormones and brain chemicals (Sasson, 2017) .
The male and female brain has distinct anatomical differences in both neural and psychological functions. The total brain size of men is bigger while the female has larger hippocampus which gives them a higher ability to learn and memorize things. A balance in the right and left part of the brain leads to a healthy mind because of the ability to deliver both intrusive and logical approach to problems or life which enables one to have stable mental health. The male’s brain differs from that of a female caused by the difference in the sex-steroid hormones. Estrogens and progesterone are for women while testosterone and androgens in male. Amygdala and the hippocampus brain size differ in male and female. The two organs are highly concentrated with sex-specific hormones. Another difference is the DNA composition specifically the chromosome X and Y where female has two X and male has one. This difference expends to the structural differences. The female uses more of the right part of the brain enabling them to be more intrusive thinkers while male use the left part more and thereby logical thinkers.
Multitasking is believed to be a part of life which most people think women are better multitaskers as compared to men. This is because the brain cannot process two simultaneous activities at the same time and thus quickly switch from one to the other very fast. It is believed to be time-saving, yet it is ineffective and inefficient due to the minimal concentration given to the activity. For better results completed in the shortest time possible with little errors, one should learn to execute an operation after the other.
How to Boost Concentration in Children and Adults
Humans can boost concentration levels through different practices. In children eating healthy meals such as those rich in omega 3 and vitamins, E is critical in the building of brain cells and nerves that enhances their concentration. Exercise is vital to both children and adult in improving concentration. This is because exercise leads to hormonal balance and calmness. On the other hand, adults need to learn different mechanisms of stress management. This clears mind and stay calm will performing other duties. In general, the aspects that boost concentration are similar in both children and adults and thus the need to maintain a healthy living culture (Goleman, 2015).
Having done exercises, adequate sleep, and eat healthy meals, the concentration needs to be built through meditation, memorisation, learning new things, and exercise and reading long passage slowly. Through meditation the attention span is increased with time due to the calming effect. What one feeds on is vital in brain health development. Healthy brain and a good memory can be enhanced by feeding on high protein foods and fatty fish which is rich in omega three that is essential in the building of the brain and learning. This is because the brain is made of fats and close to half is omega three fats. This enables the replenishment of the nerve cells and the gray matter that are key in decision making and emotional balance. Also foods high in carbohydrates enhance the brain energy. Carbohydrates are broken down to form ATP that enhances the brain’s metabolism. Increased metabolism in turn improves the neural activity therefore improving cognitive performance and attention (Konnikova, 2012)
Memorisation is the ability to recall thing back. This increases the concentration and attention fueled with the drive to remember it in the future through continuous usage. This goes in hand with learning new things from time to time. When one learns a new idea, the brain creates a space for it and thus the expansion of the mental ability as well as its ability to absorb and store. Exercise is essential for the general body just as the mind which improves the health of brain cells, growth of new brain blood cells which increases the brain cells. Exercise reduces stress levels, and thus a person has a balanced hormone in the body. When a person reads long passages slowly, it increases the attention ability as well as the absorption rates this increases the levels of focusing and retention which are signs of a healthy brain (Goleman, 2015) .
Chunking is the ability to store small bits of information and then grouping them to develop useful information. This can be illustrated by the ability to memorise a phone number where the numbers are clustered into three to four digits. Grouping of information helps one to remember multiple things which expand their capacity of mental concentration.
Concentration can be accomplished by the use of different strategies such as breaking down of the tedious works; this makes it to work on portions and be able to complete the task slowly. Another strategy to be used is identifying learning style simply because what works for one person might not for the other
The three motivational systems we rely on are extrinsic, intrinsic and family. Extrinsic motivation is attached to the external results or the drive to get a different outcome. The intrinsic is the internal drive to do something and be able to attain success. Family motivation is driving factors based on the need to be able to meet the demands of the family or loved one. The desire or purpose to achieve a goal works is a motivating factor towards the goal. The focus is a motivating aspect of learning where an individual purpose to learn by setting rules to adhere to. The focus needs to be purposeful and gradual, and this trains the mind to concentrate without distraction for a fixed period. This continuous practice develops a culture that is learned and practised over time (Goleman, 2015) .
Smart practice is aspects that have grown with time and are based on evidence of their effectiveness. They are adopted in different fields based on the measures used. In life, a person is exposed to both negative and positive effects of life. The ratio of which they exposed to this effects affects their success whereby continuous adverse effects enhances the likelihood of failure and vice versa. As negativity affects the stability and development of the mental health reflected in decision making and emotional calmness. Self-awareness is critical in the development of healthy relationships is associated with the ability to control your emotions, moods and being able to maintain levels of calmness. It is connected to the smart decision in that, the person who has control of their emotions can make rational decisions other than impulsive ones (Goleman, 2015) .
In conclusion the brain health determines the level of concentration and accomplishments, It is therefore essential to improve the brain to achieve concentration. Several differences exist between the male and the female brain majorly due to the differences in sex hormones. Various strategies could be implemented to enhance concentration. These strategies include; balanced diet, exercise, meditation, memorization, and smart practice.
References
Goleman, D. (2015). : Hormones, Hardwiring and the Female Brain: Balancing Your brain for optimal Health. (D. Amen, Interviewer)
Konnikova, M. (2012, December 15). The Power of Concentration . Retrieved from New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/16/opinion/sunday/the-power-of-concentration.htm
Sasson, R. (2017). The Power of Concentration . Retrieved from Success Consciousness: https://www.successconsciousness.com/index_000004.htm
