transmitting messages, and filing them away for future use.
In our cell phone analogy, it’s not only the neurons that need to be working
well to successfully store memories—the network must be fully functional, too.
We’ve all been in plenty of places with “no bars,” no connection, no signal. It’s
not that your phone is on the fritz. It’s that the connection fails. Here’s how that
happens in your brain. The space between neurons is called the synapse, and
neurotransmitters are chemicals that bring info back and forth across it. The
most common one is called acetylcholine. A shortage of it can be what causes
those “dropped calls.”
Turmeric has played a starring role in both tasty curries and holistic medicine for
ages, with research pointing to the health perks of an antioxidant it contains,
including a possible impact on your brain. Now the peppery spice is going
mainstream. You’ll see it popping up as the star ingredient in everything from tea
to snacks, but bring it to the front row of your spice rack, too. Sprinkle turmeric
on eggs, lentils, roasted veggies, rice, and whatever else you’ve got cooking
tonight.
Other things can mess up this transmission between neurons. For example, if
you don’t use the network often, that synapse will weaken. Makes sense, right?
If you’re learning piano or a foreign language, you’re more likely to remember it
the more you practise. If you skip lessons for a few months, you’ll forget plenty.
We strengthen our synapses the more we use them, creating a stronger and
stronger signal. Information can flow because that signal is ultra-high-speed. The