#4: How Does Focus Change Your Brain?

Hi,

I'm happy you want to invest in your brain. That's a smart choice. As always, I've got 4 Brain Nutrients for you:

• One Short Article: How Does Focus Change Your Brain?

• Two Quotes.

• One Neuroscience Fact: Adrenaline And Epinephrine Are Identical

Enjoy!

One Short Article: How Does Focus Change Your Brain?

I have a crush on neuroscience.

Today, I'll make my first attempt to talk about it. Last week, I wrote about the importance of focus. I also mentioned that our brain is plastic during the whole lifespan. Today, I want to back my claims with science.

To change your brain, you need two molecules: epinephrine and acetylcholine.

Epinephrine is released when you are alert; acetylcholine when you focus.

You get the most epinephrine during your wakefulness peaks. Its level is dynamic during the 24-hour cycles (circadian rhythm).

Acetylcholine gets released when you focus on something. It's when you pay attention to something. The depth of focus also varies. Note: without alertness, your focus is shallow.

Epinephrine wakes up your brain and puts it in active mode. It spreads on the whole brain.

Acetylcholine acts like a spotlight. It spreads in a smaller area of your brain. What you pay attention to determines the brain space. Only things that you pay attention to change your brain.

But your brain doesn't change immediately. The physical change, the growth of synapses, happens during sleep.

Our two neurochemicals leave a mark in the area of your brain that was active. That's how it knows where to build.

Epinephrine + Acetylcholine + Sleep -> Brain Change

Two Quotes

• "Our knowledge is now our most important asset." Tiago Forte, Building a Second Brain.

• "Concentration is at the crux of all human success and endeavor." Monk Dandapani. Source: Limitless by Jim Kwik

One Neuroscience Fact: Adrenaline and Epinephrine Are Identical

Epinephrine and adrenaline are chemically identical substances - the same molecules. The difference is the source. Epinephrine is released in the brain, and adrenaline in the body (adrenal glands above kidneys).

Thanks for reading. See you next week.

Keep your brain in mind.

Kris

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