NEW ULM - A German university student with local ties is spending much of the current school year lecturing and doing research at the University of Minnesota (U of M) School of Kinesiology.
Andr Buchner, 23, the nephew of Florian Dittrich of New Ulm, received a scholarship from the University of Regensburg to give lectures and do brain research at UM from October 2011 to April 2012.
A student assistant majoring in Latin and sports at Regensburg, Buchner, applied to be a guest scholar at various U.S. universities before he was accepted at the U of M before he applied for a J1 short-term scholar visa and received it last September.
Working in the U of M Human Sensory Motor Control lab, Buchner is studying how the brain controls movement, working with doctoral students doing research with functional magnetic resonance imaging or functional MRI, a procedure that measures brain activity by detecting associated blood flow changes.
Buchner's Uof M lectures center on developing concepts to optimize brain capacity and positive attitudes by connecting motor skills, cognition and emotion.
"My central question is how to ensure mental fitness and a positive life attitude," he said. "You can develop your brain further with practice that creates more neurons and synapses."
Buchner said his human testing research shows the benefits of activating all the brain's components to create:
A positive attitude towards life with intrinsic motivation, focus, coordination by creating more neuron and synapse networks for further brain development with practice exercises.
Lower error rates and forgetfulness while increasing efficiency and concentration.
An alternative treatment to medication for diseases like depression, dementia, Alzheimers, Multiple Sclerosis, stroke, and Parkinson's.
Improved adult well-being by exercising the brain with a variety of thought processes.
Improved well-being and grade point averages in children and adolescents with specially-designed games.
"Several years of research and testing has shown that 14-year-old female students and 18-year-old boys have improved their grades by a complete grade with relevant brain exercises," Buchner said.
In Germany, he hopes earn a doctoral degree while creating clubs focusing on further brain development, which he feels could have additional physical and mental health applications.
The University of Regensburg's most famous academic is Pope Benedict XVI, who served as a professor there until 1977, and formally retains a theology chair.
Regensburg is noted for its scenic countryside, the Danube River Valley, modest living costs, the nearby heights of the Bavarian Forest, nearby lakes, and a brisk cultural life.
Buchner can be e-mailed at mail@gehirnrenner.com
Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.
