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BY AUDREY SELLERS

an people really be right-brained or leftbrained? Maybe you’ve taken an online test to determine your dominant side. Those tests may be fun, but they’re not factual. Science says it’s a myth for people to be right-brained or left-brained, and brain-imaging technology hasn’t found any evidence of right or left-brain dominance. However, science does show that the right and left sides of the brain specialize in different tasks. The left side of the brain helps you understand things like language and math, while the right side of the brain is responsible for things like memory and attention. People who are considered left-brain thinkers may be more analytical and objective, while right-brain thinkers are usually more creative and artistic. Understanding how the right and left sides of the brain work together can help you play to your strengths and improve your learning. The human brain isn’t fully formed until around age 25 (as parents well know), and its storage capacity is virtually unlimited. So, whether you want to go after a personal or professional goal or help your kids reach their full potential, knowing how the brain works can help you learn faster and remember more. Here, we share a few ways to tap into both the right and left sides of the brain to boost your brainpower.

Awakening the Brain’s Left Side

Training the left side of your brain may feel like you’re back in school. That’s because activities like reading, writing, and solving puzzles awaken the brain’s more logical left side. To improve your brain’s left-side functioning, try learning a new language. Neuroscientists at Iowa State University found that learning a new language causes extensive neuroplasticity in the brain. (Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to rewire itself and form new neural connections.) When you learn a new language, you help rearrange your brain and develop new pathways. Some other ideas to exercise your brain’s left side include playing board games, tackling sudoku puzzles, and spending time every day reading or writing.

Maximizing the Right Side of the Brain

You can stimulate the brain’s right side by seeking creative pursuits. Try activities like gardening, painting, or knitting. Some other ideas include singing or learning to play a new instrument. Science has shown that musical training can positively improve the brain’s structure and function. It can also lead to better brain development for people who start at a young age. A University of Montreal study revealed that musicians tend to be more mentally alert. Whether you strum a guitar or sit down at the piano, you’ll be doing your brain good.

All Together Now

Whether you’re performing a creative or logical task, the two sides of your brain are always working together. In fact, neuroscientists have found that the brain works best when both sides are engaged at the same time. So, instead of labeling yourself as a right-brainer or left-brainer, know that the whole brain works as one, and you have the power to make it stronger.

Wearable Tech Trends

BY ANNETTE BROOKS

Modern wearable devices (wearables) have come a long way from the concepts many of us grew up with. Some, like the Get Smart shoe phone, never made it into the mainstream, while others, like The Jetson’s video watch, likely inspired devices such as the smartwatches we see today.

The wearable tech market includes exciting trends you can enjoy now and keep an eye on as they evolve. Here are a few of our favorites.

Gaming Wearables

Are couch potato gamers becoming a thing of the past? Advanced gaming devices with enhanced virtual and augmented reality, like Meta Quest 2 , encourage activity and physical participation while offering a completely immersive, dynamic experience. Transported to virtual worlds, players move their bodies in the real world, increasing their physical activity level and boosting coordination and balance. Plus, with cloud-based gaming capabilities, gamers can play from nearly anywhere they have a stable internet connection.

Glasses

Q, the tech gadget creator in the James Bond movies, has new competition from an unlikely source — Ray-Ban. Yes, the people who make sunglasses. Ray-Ban partnered with Meta (formerly known as Facebook) to offer ultracool shades that enable the wearer to capture and share videos and photos and listen to music with a single touch or a voice command. While they aren’t the only wearable eyewear option, fashion-forward Ray-Ban Stories glasses are available in a few different styles, including the iconic Wayfarer. The price points are surprisingly affordable, the technology is discreet, and the Facebook View app is used to share content to your social accounts.

Smart Jewelry

Advanced wearable technology has evolved beyond smartwatches and wristband fitness trackers to include stylish jewelry. One in-demand application focuses on personal safety, with modern “panic buttons” masquerading as rings, bracelets, and pendant necklaces. InvisaWear smart jewelry, for example, even connects to a name-brand subscription service that locates you via GPS and connects you to 911 assistance. Smart jewelry is also designed to track menstrual cycles, monitor your sleep ( Oura Ring ), for medical emergency alerts, and can be used for contactless payment systems at the point of sale. Are you battling menopausal hot flashes? Embr Wave , which comes in rose gold and black color options, uses exclusive technology to combat hot flashes. Worn with the device face turned to your inner wrist, it provides relief by cooling this area of sensitive skin. The Embr Wave 2 app allows you to customize control of your hot flashes, including while you sleep.