Comments on: Feeding The Informal Learner’s Brain http://thelearnersguild.wordpress.com/2008/08/13/feeding-the-informal-learner%e2%80%99s-brain/ Just another WordPress.com weblog Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:28:46 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: sandrar http://thelearnersguild.wordpress.com/2008/08/13/feeding-the-informal-learner%e2%80%99s-brain/#comment-204 sandrar Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:28:28 +0000 http://thelearnersguild.wordpress.com/?p=51#comment-204 Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post... nice! I love your blog. :) Cheers! Sandra. R. Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. :) Cheers! Sandra. R.

]]> By: Chris Khoo http://thelearnersguild.wordpress.com/2008/08/13/feeding-the-informal-learner%e2%80%99s-brain/#comment-66 Chris Khoo Thu, 14 Aug 2008 03:48:23 +0000 http://thelearnersguild.wordpress.com/?p=51#comment-66 Hehe not only that, apparently having Omega-3s, eating calorie restricted or having a lower meal frequency can improve hippocampal neurogenesis (via studies done on rhesus monkeys and mice), but then again, there are studies showing that improving neurogenesis can have a detrimental effect on working memory... choices choices! :-) BTW, your rationale of comparing between different cultures is somewhat correct. I mean, sure the human digestive system is very adaptable to various food sources, but is it optimal? For example, there are an above average number of Mexicans who get tongue cancer... and unfortunately, it's got something to do with their love for chillis. Taking a different tack, look at people who live in Blue Zones (people who live over 100) - they do share some similarities in how they achieve longevity (mainly plant based diet, low stress, surrounded by family, etc.). However, to play the devil's advocate on myself, you also have outliers like Jeanne Calment - the oldest ever confirmed person, who smokes & eats chocolate daily and she still lived till 122. However, she was fairly active (took up fencing at 97!!), and I suspect she ate healthy. But back on your first story, eating a high fat meal at night does affect REM sleep (according to EEG studies), so perhaps the aphorism of dining like a pauper probably does some merit in terms of procedural memory consolidation. Hehe not only that, apparently having Omega-3s, eating calorie restricted or having a lower meal frequency can improve hippocampal neurogenesis (via studies done on rhesus monkeys and mice), but then again, there are studies showing that improving neurogenesis can have a detrimental effect on working memory… choices choices! :-)

BTW, your rationale of comparing between different cultures is somewhat correct. I mean, sure the human digestive system is very adaptable to various food sources, but is it optimal? For example, there are an above average number of Mexicans who get tongue cancer… and unfortunately, it’s got something to do with their love for chillis.

Taking a different tack, look at people who live in Blue Zones (people who live over 100) – they do share some similarities in how they achieve longevity (mainly plant based diet, low stress, surrounded by family, etc.).

However, to play the devil’s advocate on myself, you also have outliers like Jeanne Calment – the oldest ever confirmed person, who smokes & eats chocolate daily and she still lived till 122. However, she was fairly active (took up fencing at 97!!), and I suspect she ate healthy.

But back on your first story, eating a high fat meal at night does affect REM sleep (according to EEG studies), so perhaps the aphorism of dining like a pauper probably does some merit in terms of procedural memory consolidation.

]]>