Travelling overseas is an excellent opportunity to refresh, unwind, and start fresh. But did you realize that travel might improve your mental health and increase intelligence? Read on to learn how travelling affects your brain, according to scientists.
Dr. Marian Diamond, a neuroscience professor who researched Einstein’s brain, helped us understand the benefits of travel for the brain. She suggested that fresh experiences improve our cognitive abilities. But what precisely does this mean?
Let’s begin with a small history. In 1964, Dr. Diamond conducted a revolutionary experiment that fundamentally altered our knowledge of the brain. Her research with inquisitive laboratory rats provided the first empirical proof of brain plasticity, or the brain’s ability to develop and alter over time.
“It was thrilling,” Dr. Diamond stated in the documentary My Love Affair the Brain. “No one else had taken similar measures and obtained these findings. We were quite thrilled about it”.
HOW CAN NEW EXPERIENCES BENEFIT YOUR BRAIN?
Not long ago, the notion that life experiences may influence the brain was considered radical. Scientists thought genes dictated intelligence, implying that the brain’s capacity was inherited rather than developed. You were either born lucky or unlucky; end of story.
But now, owing to significant neuroscience discoveries, we know that the outside environment and taking an online IQ test may improve cognitive performance. The scientific word for this is neuroplasticity.
So, what does this mean for us as individuals? It means we can improve and repair our brains.
7 WAYS TRAVELING CAN MAKE YOU SMARTER
1. You will learn to think outside of the box
Going overseas is the best way to learn. There are hundreds of methods to solve every problem. Seeing your lifestyle and values through the eyes of a minority will compel you to consider how diverse the world may be, as well as the various beliefs and cultures that exist. That type of awakening permanently alters a person’s perception of the intricacy of the world around them.
2. Your emotional intelligence will be assessed and developed
Being sensitive and socially competent is an entirely different problem while travelling overseas. Social signs and actions change widely among cultures, making it hard to decipher specific codes initially. The first struggle to comprehend the subtext of social interactions will only strengthen and increase your ability to engage with others in the future. You will also learn some standard techniques to show respect to others.
3. Learning a second (or third, or fourth) language is excellent for your brain
Being multilingual has several advantages, which are well known. Foreign language abilities can significantly influence cognitive processes because bilingual brains function differently than monolingual brains. Your brain efficiency and memory increase, as do your linguistics, problem-solving, and multitasking abilities.
4. You develop a multicultural outlook
Travelling to another nation and immersing yourself in a different culture provides a fresh perspective. You become aware of the differences between the world’s civilizations and how everyone lives in a different reality. Being aware of and developing sensitivity to these distinctions is critical for anybody who wishes to work on a multicultural team in the future. People are inspired to work in a variety of ways. If you want to collaborate with foreigners, you must be sensitive to this.
5. You’ll make clever foreign buddies who are globetrotters like you
Surrounding yourself with intelligent individuals who push you is a beautiful approach to keep on your toes. Intelligent international buddies will broaden your outlook on the globe. Having friends with diverse cultural origins, travels, and hobbies can make you understand how many intricate and exciting things are happening in the world you were unaware of.
6. It will increase your feeling of wonder and curiosity
You’ll begin to examine things you previously took for granted in your life. Why do I act the way I do? What could I learn about the world around me? The world will seem larger, more nuanced, and exciting as you enter a new reality.
7. It will test your critical thinking abilities
International travel is difficult. It requires logistical skills, time management, and critical thinking abilities, especially when other languages are involved. You’ll have to draw conclusions, evaluate, and interpret while navigating a new city, culture, and transportation system.
SO, WHERE TO NEXT, BRAIN?
Now that you understand how travel affects your brain, it’s time to pick your next vacation. Will you travel somewhere you have never visited before? Or to a familiar place but with fresh experiences?
