19 January,2009 07:11 AM IST | | Soma Das
I send around 25 SMSes a day. They are sent to friends, and aren't related to work. The maximum number of SMSes I send are about rescuing abandoned and stray dogs, since I'm a dog lover and passionate about the cause.
That's what a new British study claims. iTALK finds out how sending a text message could in fact, be good for your brain
Pia Trivedi, TV Host and Model
You phone beeps. It's an SMS. You scan it, type a reply at lightening speed and hit "send". The process barely takes a few seconds but involves complex coordination between various parts of the body.
Now, a study published in the British Medical Journal says texting may be a good indication of how healthy or ill you are. The coordination necessary to send a text acts as a sign that your brain is working on a
reasonably good level.
How it works
Jyoti Sangle, Visiting Psychiatrist at Dr LH Hiranandani Hospital, explains the process: "When the brain receives a piece of information, it responds to it by creating something new, or passing it on. The data is fed to the brain through neurons and is tallied with pre-stored data. Some of it may be filtered and the next set of neurons respond to it via talking, gestures or sending an SMS. The channels that are involved include the fingertips, brain and the eyes."
Sending an SMS is connected to sharpness of the brain since you have to convey the information using minimum words, requiring immediate thought, mind-hand-eye coordination and knowledge of short cuts.
You could get addicted
Dr Sangle cautions that texting could develop into an addiction as seen in the case of the 13 year-old US teen Reina Hardesty who sent 14,528 SMSes in 30 days. Some are even said to suffer from a lack of self-esteem if their phone doesn't ring or beep.
Doctors caution users about the Carpel Tunnel Syndrome, that can result from incorrect positioning of hands and fingers when typing a text message.
Celebs ke SMS kisse
>>Aamir Khan says whenever he sent a "best of luck" SMS to Sachin Tendulkar, he got out quickly. So, he stopped sending those messages.
>>Pop star Britney Spears divorced Kevin Federline via a text message.
>>Actress/socialite Lindsay Lohan and DJ Samantha Ronson's relationship became public when their romantic text messages were leaked out on the media.
Playing Sudoku stimulates the brain
Dr Preeti Sahota Consultant Neurologist, Wockhardt Hospital
Text messaging can be a good indicator of brain functioning; to check visual and motor coordination. But it does not consider other senses like hearing.
Signs that the brain is affected
You will be unable to type, read or write, and will experience a lack of concentration. You will end up making mistake in things you are good at.
How to stimulate the brain
Exercise, follow a proper diet, learn a skill, or play mind games like Sudoku. Solve crossword.
Eat spinach and fish to boost brain power
Dr Anjali Peswani Nutritionist
>>Foods that are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, iron and folic acid are good for the brain. Consume leafy vegetables, fish, and protein rich dal, whole-wheat products and egg yolks. Have red meat in moderation, make sure it's fried in little oil.
>>Walnuts and almonds are great for enhancing memory.
>>Bananas contain ingredients that trigger enzymes in the brain and help it function optimally.
>>Prunes, figs, olives and dates are great.
>>Avoid fatty foods, alcohol and smoking.
They send SMSes for a living
Kavitha Das, PR Professional
On a typical day, I send between 15 to 30 SMSes.u00a0 I text invites for events, send out information about change in schedule, and coordinate with others. I type with both hands and have a super speed. It helps if the
cellphone's dictionary (T9) is on.
Bunty Rohira, Senior Advertising and Strategic Planner, Netcore Solutions
Our company sends MyTODAY SMS updates on news, Sensex, cricket and health to 3.7 million users all over India. A team is devoted to formulating the SMS content. They keep an eye on current affairs, and updates. When a big story breaks it gets stressful since the matter has to be sent within seconds, in a limited word count.
