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PFC Moodle Reading Material (Brain)

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15 views5 pages

PFC Moodle Reading Material (Brain)

Uploaded by

alifarukcetin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Bilkent University English Language Preparatory Program

Pre-Faculty Course

Moodle Reading Material

USE IT OR LOSE IT: KEEPING THE BRAIN YOUNG

1 You hear the same complaint all the time as people get older: "My memory is terrible." Is it all
in the mind, or do real changes take place in the brain with age to justify such grumbling? The
depressing answer is that the brain's cells, the neurons, die and decline in efficiency with age.
2 Professor Arthur Shimamura, of the University of California at Berkeley, says there are three
main ways in which mental function changes. The first is mental speed, for example how quickly
you can react to fast-moving incidents on the road. Drivers in their late teens react quickly but
tend to drive too fast, while the over sixties are more cautious but react more slowly. The near-
inevitable slowing with age also partly explains why soccer players are seen as old in their
thirties, while gulf professionals are still in their prime at that age. This type of mental slowing
results from a reduction in the efficiency with which the brain's neurons work.
3 The fact that adults find it harder to learn musical instruments than children points to a second
type of mental loss with age - a reduction in learning capacity. The parts of the brain known as
the temporal lobes control new learning, and are particularly vulnerable to the effects of ageing.
This means that, as we get older, we take longer to learn a new language, are slower to master
new routines and technologies at work, and we have to rely more on diaries and other mental
aids.
4 "Working memory" is the third brain system which is vulnerable to the effects of ageing.
Working memory is the brain's "blackboard", where we juggle from moment to moment the
things we have to keep in mind when solving problems, planning tasks and generally organising
our day-to-day life. Absent-mindedness occurs at all ages because of imperfections in the
working memory system – so, for instance, you may continually lose your glasses, or find
yourself walking into a room of your house only to find that you cannot remember what you
came for.
5 Such absent-mindedness tends to creep up on us as we age and occurs because our plans and
intentions, which are chalked up on the menial blackboard, are easily wiped out by stray thoughts

PFC Moodle Reading Material Prepared in May, 2018


Adapted from O’Connell, S. (2011). Focus on IELTS. Pearson and Longman
and other distractions. Stress and preoccupation can also cause such absent-mindedness, in
addition to age-related changes in the brain. The frontal lobes of the brain -located behind the
forehead and above the eyes- are where the working memory system is located. Like the temporal
lobes, which handle new learning, the frontal lobes are more vulnerable to the ageing process
than other parts of the brain.
6 The news, however, is not all bleak. Although neurons reduce in number with age, the
remaining neurons send out new and longer connecting fibres (dendrites) to maintain connections
and allow us to function reasonably well with only relatively small drops in ability.
7 This and other evidence suggests that the principle ''use it or lose it" might apply to the ageing
brain. Professor Shimamura studied a group of university professors who were still intellectually
active, and compared their performance on neuropsychological tests with that of others of their
age group, as well as with younger people. He found that on several tests of memory, the
mentally active professors in their sixties and early seventies were superior to their
contemporaries, and as good as the younger people.
8 Research on animals provides even stronger evidence of the effects of stimulation on the brain
structure. Professor Bryan Kolb, of the University of Lethbridge in Canada, has shown that
animals kept in stimulating environments show sprouting and lengthening of the connecting
nerve fibres in their brains, in comparison with animals kept in unstimulating environments.
9 The beneficial effects of continued mental activity are shown by the fact that older contestants
in quiz shows are just as fast and accurate in responding to general knowledge questions as
younger competitors, suggesting that at least part of their intellectual apparatus is spared the
effects of ageing because of practice and skill.
10 Such findings lead to the intriguing possibility of "mental fitness training" to accompany
jogging and workouts for the health conscious. Research in Stockholm by Professor Lars
Backman and his colleagues has shown that older people can be trained to use their memory
better, with the effects of this training lasting several years.
11 Just as people go bald or grey at different rates, so the same is true for their mental faculties.
Why this should be the case for memory and other mental functions is not yet clear, but physical
factors play a part. If Professor Shimamura is right, then the degree to which people use and
stretch their mental faculties may also have a role to play.

PFC Moodle Reading Material Prepared in May, 2018


Adapted from O’Connell, S. (2011). Focus on IELTS. Pearson and Longman
1. Which THREE of the following are given in the text?

A a detailed description of the structure of the brain


В an account of the effects on ageing on the brain
С a report about the results of several research projects
D a description of several methods of testing mental ability
E an explanation of how mental decline can be limited

In this task, you need to match the causes and effects described in paragraphs 1-8 of the
text. Complete each of the statements (2-6) with the best ending (A—H)
1. As the neurons in the brain become less efficient, ...
2. As the temporal lobes of the brain are affected by ageing, ...
3. If a person is under stress, ...
4. When the frontal lobes of the brain are affected by ageing, ...
5. If an animal's brain is kept active and stimulated, ...

List of Endings

A absent-mindedness may become more frequent.


В people go bald or grey at different rates.
С reactions become slower.
D new connecting nerve fibres develop.
E the performance of some university professors was studied.
F it becomes harder to pick up new skills.
G older quiz competitors do better than younger ones.
H there is a gradual deterioration in the working memory.

PFC Moodle Reading Material Prepared in May, 2018


Adapted from O’Connell, S. (2011). Focus on IELTS. Pearson and Longman
Questions 7-11
Look at the following people (A-C) and the list of achievements (7-11) below. Match each
achievement to the appropriate person.

A Professor Shimamura
В Professor Bryan Kolb
С Professor Lars Backman

7 Investigated the memories of different groups of people.


8 Established the effectiveness of memory training.
9 Identified a number of areas in which mental function may change.
10 Investigated the development of nerve fibres in the brain.
11 Did a study including observation of the long-term effects on his subjects.

PFC Moodle Reading Material Prepared in May, 2018


Adapted from O’Connell, S. (2011). Focus on IELTS. Pearson and Longman
USE IT OR LOSE IT: KEEPING THE BRAIN YOUNG

ANSWER KEY

1 - В, С, Е (in any order)


2-С
3-F
4-A
5-H
6-D
7-A
8-С
9-A
10 - В
11 - C

PFC Moodle Reading Material Prepared in May, 2018


Adapted from O’Connell, S. (2011). Focus on IELTS. Pearson and Longman

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