Muscle Memory and Cognition

 

What is Muscle Memory? 

Muscle memory is the act of committing a specific motor task into memory through repetition. Actually, “muscle memory” as we tend to think of it, i.e., having little brains in muscles, isn’t actually true. The truth is that the information retained about repeated activities is stored in the brain, not the muscles. While muscles themselves can’t actually remember anything, they are full of neurons attached to the nervous system that play a role in motor learning. Any movement requires brain activity, and repeating a movement, even complicated ones, enough times triggers recognizable patterns in human brain regions responsible for motor skills. Thus, leading to a learned motion will require less brainpower in the future.

Muscle memory is a form of procedural memory that involves consolidating a specific motor task into memory through repetition, which has been used synonymously with motor learning. When a movement is repeated over time, a long-term muscle memory is created for that task, eventually allowing it to be performed with little to no conscious effort. This process decreases the need for attention and creates maximum efficiency within the motor and memory systems. Muscle memory is found in many everyday activities that become automatic and improve with practice.

Why is muscle memory important for healthy aging?

Can we teach old dog new tricks? The truth is that anyone can develop new muscle memory. Once-difficult skills can become second nature to us, as long as we focus on our own learning and repetition. This is true even as we age. It can take a little longer to reprogram our minds to retain memory of new activities, especially when we have decades of other muscle memory lingering in our neural pathways—but it’s definitely possible to build instinctive motor coordination as we grow older.

To learn more about how exercise and practice impacts brain function as we age, types of muscle memories, the benefit of regular physical training/exercise, practical takeaways for musical practice, how to develop and improve muscle memory, go to https://www.qualitylifeforum.net/muscle-memory-and-cognition.html

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Aging Brain: Changes of Thinking of the Aging Mind

 

Ageing causes changes to the brain size, vasculature, and cognition, according to medical literature. The brain shrinks with increasing age and there are changes at all levels from molecules to morphology. Incidence of stroke, white matter lesions, and dementia also rise with age, and there are changes in levels of neurotransmitters and hormones.

Physical changes are found that the volume of the brain and/or its weight declines with age at a rate of around 5% per decade after age 40 with the actual rate of decline possibly increasing with age particularly over age 70. The most widely seen cognitive change associated with ageing is memory impairment. ​

Age-related changes in how the brain manages memory, thinking, and other mental processes are called “cognitive aging”, which is NOT because of disease or damage nor involve neurodegeneration or significant damage to the brain’s neurons. The normal and expected cognitive aging, from medical literature and clinical findings, are reviewed for memory, attention, language skills, executive function, processing speed, crystallized and fluid intelligence, emotional processing, and most importantly, the practical takeaways and action to take to enhance cognitive health. Go to https://www.qualitylifeforum.net/aging-brain.html to learn more.

Cognitive aging means that as people getting older, the mental functions become less flexible with memories getting worse. Aging brain also becomes more easily distracted by busy environments, and it takes more effort to work through complex problems, choices, and decisions.

Aging tends to make people more positive, optimistic, trusting, emotionally resilient, and focused on good things. This often helps people feel happier as they get older. But these changes may also make older adults more susceptible to deception and financial exploitation.

Aging is inevitable, but quality of life is not age limiting. Cognitive health requires self-care actions for maintenance. To learn about physical changes of aging body, go to The Milestone of Age 65. Don’t blame your age. Healthy mindset and life style has a direct impact on your mind and body.

Learning and understanding your aging brain will benefit aging anticipation and self-care. Feel free to contact QualityLifeForum@outlook.com for personal support. An individualized coaching program can help you achieving your personal health goals.