#hippocampus

#hippocampus

When I asked neurologists about their top behaviors for brain health, they all stressed the importance of physical activity. Exercise is top, No. 1, when we're thinking about the biggest bang for your buck, said Dr. Gregg Day, a neurologist at the Mayo Clinic. Numerous studies have shown that people who exercise regularly tend to perform better on attention, memory and executive functioning tests. There can be a small cognitive boost immediately after a workout, and the effects are sustained if people exercise consistently.

Mysterious mental misfires are not random and, in many cases, predictable and avoidable. Once you understand the neuroscience behind these common tasks, the confusion evaporates, and you can avoid the self-doubt and humiliation that often come from what we sometimes conclude are examples of individual stupidity. What appears to be a personal flaw is actually just your ancient brain navigating a modern world.

The hippocampus creates mental maps crucial for navigation, while the parahippocampal cortex distills visual scenes into actionable paths, integrating sensory input seamlessly.