Dr. Clark's Brain Based Blog

Doodling improves Memory

Dallas Chiropractc Neurologist Comments

  I heard this story on Doodling on NPR this morning ....

No, doodling does not equal boredom. In fact, quite the opposite. Doodling actually HELPS your brain from becoming bored. 

I used to get in trouble all the time in grade school and middle school for drawing all over the margins of my test papers. What did I draw? I don't know what it means, but I'd draw 3-D shapes like cubes, cones, spheres..and then I'd branch out and draw small islands with a lone coconut tree. (Maybe I watched too much Giligan's Island).

I still remember Mrs. Wagnon writing in red felt-tip marker on one of my quizzes

"Please refrain from drawing on your test paper."

It makes perfect sense why doodling helps your brain.

Your brain needs two things to be healthy...fuel and activation.

Basically, your brain needs to be stimulated to stay alive and healthy. If it's not getting adequate stimulation from your environment a back-up system sort of kicks in. You start doodling and that physical activity keeps your brain stimulated.

The NPR story quoted a study done in the journal Applied Cognitive Psychology that discovered people who doodled had better memories. Very cool.

In my own practice I've used doodling in my treatment of various neurological problems like dyslexia and learning disablities, stroke rehab, even chronic pain conditions like Fibromyalgia.

Doodling is a kind of "non-linear complex fine motor movement" (more on that some other time) that is very stimulating to the cerebellum and also the cortex.

Make sure to read the story, I found it very enlightening (but I'm kind of a nerd).

FYI.....I wrote a short report about "The Two Things Your Brain Needs to Be Healthy", it's full of useful information to keep your brain in top shape and avoid early brain aging.

Just email me and I'll get it to you.

Using Mirrors to Change the Brains of Stroke Victims

Dallas Chiropractic Neurologist Comments:

I'll bet that you know someone that's had a stroke. Every year millions of men and women of all ages are devastated by strokes and transient ischemic attacks (mini-strokes).  The real tragedy is most stroke victims DO NOT RECEIVE ADEQUATE REHABILITATION.  Usually the stroke victim gets anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks of rehab---not nearly enough---but that's all insurance will pay for. The stroke victim usually still has problems with using the arms or legs, can't walk very well; still has memory, emotional or attention issues.

What frustrates me to the point of cursing  is that stroke victims are told by their doctors that they won't get any better after 6 months or at the most 12 months..no improvement is possible. 

THIS IS TOTALLY FALSE!!

Stroke victims can enjoy huge gains in function months and even years after the stroke--if the CORRECT brain-based rehab is done. The doctors who are saying this simply don't know what to do.

I've been restoring hope to stroke victims for many years now using Brain-Based Rehabilitation. We've helped stroke victims leave their wheelchairs behind, gain independence, talk normally again. Keep in mind these were people who had their stroke 6 months, 12 months, 3 years--before we treated them. And they ALL got great results. (email us if you want more info or a f.ree dvd)

One of the treatments we use in our Stroke Recovery Program is "Mirror Therapy". A few days ago,  a great article spotlighted this cutting edge therapy--

Phantom Pain Treated with 'Mirror Therapy' Click Here for the Article

The article talks about using mirror therapy for people who have lost a limb and have phantom pain or have chronic pain--and we do use it in our treatment of those conditions---but Mirror Therapy is a powerful brain strengthening tool, especially in stroke victims.

I've been using it every day for over 5 years. Hope this post helps you get a better idea of how we help stroke victims get their lives back.

lf you'd like to find out more about our Stroke Recovery Program, just call us at 214-341-3737 or send us an email.