Revealed - How your brain plans and makes decisions!

Researchers have identified an area of the brain that appears to be uniquely human and is likely to have something to do with your cognitive powers.

'The brain area discovered is known to be intimately involved in some of the most advanced planning and decision-making processes that we think of as being especially human,' said researchers at Oxford University.

'This ventrolateral frontal cortex area of the brain is involved in many of the highest aspects of cognition and language and is only present in humans and other primates,' said Matthew Rushworth of Oxford University's department of experimental psychology.

The scientists took MRI imaging of 25 adult volunteers to identify key components in the ventrolateral frontal cortex area of the human brain and how these components were connected up with other brain areas.

The results were then compared to equivalent MRI data from 25 macaque monkeys.

From the MRI data, the researchers were able to divide the human ventrolateral frontal cortex into 12 areas that were consistent across all the individuals. (Read: Jolt your brain to happiness, wipe out bad memories!)

The researchers also found that 11 of the 12 areas were common in monkey prefrontal cortex.

However, one area of the human ventrolateral frontal cortex had no equivalent in the macaque - an area called the lateral frontal pole prefrontal cortex.

'This area has been identified with strategic planning and decision making as well as multi-tasking,' said first author Franz-Xaver Neubert of Oxford University.

They found that some parts in this brain area are implicated in psychiatric conditions like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), drug addiction or compulsive behaviour disorders.

A better understanding of the neural connections and networks involved should help the understanding of changes in the brain that go along with these conditions, said the study published in the science journal Neuron.

Here are some tips to boost your brain power!

Start with a glass of water

Start the day early. Have a glass of water on waking up. This will hydrate you and keep you refreshed. Since the body has had no intake over several hours, you are dehydrated on waking up. Drinking water 'switches on' your brain and your body to start the day afresh. It is also a nice, gentle way to ease your digestive system into the rest of the day. Water is the best way to prevent and chase away fatigue be it physical or mental.

Grab a fruit

The very next thing to eat in your day is a fruit. They are high in fibre, and contain natural sugar. This way, they provide consistent energy over a long period of time. Take a banana for instance. It stimulates the release of certain neurochemicals which not only boost the mood, but also makes you more alert and improves your concentration levels. Fruits, in general, contain negligible fat and are great energy suppliers over a long period of time. Always remember that natural sugars are far better for you than synthetic or artificial sugar. Dried fruits (prunes, raisins, apricots, dry figs and dates) are also great and can be carried around as a great on-the-go snack, especially for children who are at tuitions all day.

Drink lots of fluids

In between, keep yourself revived with a drink of nimbu paani and rock salt. You could also have coconut water which due to its high potassium and mineral content replenishes your mineral levels. Both these will keep you refreshed and energised over a long period of time. Coconut flesh or malai is also another great food for the brain, so don't discard it.

Switch to 'healthy' caffeine

Those wishing for a caffeine kick, switch to herbal tea or green tea both are rich in nutrients and antioxidants. While caffeine does help improve concentration, the effect usually doesn't last long. Caffeine drinks and even, to a certain degree, coffee, do more harm than good as they have excessive caffeine content. While you may think that energy drinks and caffeine can help you stay awake, you need to realise that it actually affects your brain by slowing down the neurotransmitters that carry message from one cell to another. It causes the nerve cell to raise the level of stress hormone and makes one anxious, scared, angry or nervous and increases palpitations (irregular heartbeats) and increases your blood pressure. This causes a vicious cycle which increases acidity, loss of Vitamin B, calcium, sleeps disturbances, affects the heart, and raises cholesterol.

On the other hand tea green, white or black contains antioxidants and flavonoids which are excellent for the health and also tend to be lower in caffeine content. However, do not overdo it. Instead of caffeine you can chase off your sleep by taking a walk for a few minutes which also increases the blood flow to the brain, keeping you active and awake longer.

Go green

During meal times, remember to have at least one leafy vegetable daily. They contain iron, protein, fibre and calcium. All of these are essential for the brain function. B complex vitamins are also essential for the brain's health. (Read more: Foods to boost your brain power)

With inputs from IANS

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