News stories about the care and feeding of your brain

Are you cuckoo for cocoa?  This article says that cocoa boosts brain health.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Earn more money on the job!  Solve a crossword per day to hone your problem- solving skills.  Employers reward problem solvers with promotions and higher salaries.  Win/win, no?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Re-wiring your brain might take years, months . . . weeks?  Some say it can be done in hours.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Seth Godin on being highly selective in your reading: Folks are entitled to their opinions, but does that mean we have to listen to them? Great advice for aspiring puzzle constructors — ignore the critics. Your time is better spent honing your craft.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Cramming for mid-terms or trying to remember where you parked the car?  Check out these easy, practical ways to improve your memory:

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Don’t sweat the small stuff (like not being able to finish a Monday puzzle).  Even the best solvers make mistakes.  Mel Schwartz shows us how to reframe the way we look at mistakes.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A must-read Los Angeles Times article on memory training for kids.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Improve your memory and learning ability by studying music. Check out this article in The Telegraph about the benefits of musical education.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Dr. David Katz sees puzzle solving as “aerobics for the brain.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *