About Dr Michael Merzenich

Michael Merzenich is a professor emeritus neuroscientist at the University of California, San Francisco, a Kavli Laureate in Neuroscience, and the brains behind BrainHQ. He is the author of Soft-Wired: How the New Science of Brain Plasticity Can Change Your Life. For nearly five decades, he has been a leading pioneer in brain plasticity research. As co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Posit Science, Dr. Merzenich heads the company’s science team. Among many tributes, he has been honoured by each of the US National Academies (of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine).

Posts by Dr Michael Merzenich:

August 2, 2019

If you want to do your brain some good, take it outside

by Dr Michael Merzenich • Comment, Wellbeing

It’s summertime — even here in San Francisco. I look around and I see my neighbors putting down their devices and heading into the great outdoors. And, that should not be just a seasonal joy; it’s actually very good for your brain any time of the year. We weren’t meant to spend as much time inside – in a controlled environment – as we do. The brain thrives when it encounters new things and challenges. As just one example, studies have shown that walking on an uneven surface – such as cobblestones – and making the constant requisite physical adjustments is better for your brain than the monotony of paved surfaces. More →