Idea Engineering: Neurobics

The Idea Engineering team believes that a thoroughly stimulated brain creates better ideas. Through our neuroplasticity research we have concluded that dopamine is the ‘idea generating’ chemical. Dopamine is a compound present in the body as a neurotransmitter and a precursor to epinephrine, which is a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands, which increases rates of physiological reaction. In other words, dopamine prepares your brain to fire on all cylinders. When you increase dopamine in a brainstorming process, you have a greater likelihood to generate more exciting ideas because your brain is physically reacting to the dopamine. Every thought in your head creates a chemical release, which leads to a feeling. If you are constantly thinking positive thoughts you will release more dopamine, thus creating a feeling of joy. This is actually essential for your brain to connect with the right hemisphere and to begin to produce ideas.

So how do you increase dopamine? There is a new form of mind exercises called neorobics, which help create more dopamine, make the mind more flexible, and ease the brain’s reliance on familiar patterns. Making new patterns is especially important as it helps your brain make new connections for quicker and more innovative responses.

Some exercises to think about

Take a different path home: The change of scenery helps the brain absorb a new environment and create new patterns.

Brush your teeth with your non-dominant hand: Switching hands makes the brain use both the right and left sides of the brain. This helps strengthen the communication between the left and right hemispheres.

Random joy ride: Taking a drive without a plan raises dopamine levels and also forces the brain to observe new environments.

Learning a new sport: Sports are a great way to challenge your brain to become more coordinated with your body and also increases dopamine.

Try a few of these out and see if you find yourself feeling more stimulated, engaged, optimistic, and creative.