Which of the 16 Brain Types Are You?

 

The more you know about your brain, the better you can optimize it.

5 Primary Brain Types Explained

Dr. Daniel Amen has identified 16 Brain Types based on his brain imaging work.

In Part 1, we took a deep dive into the 5 primary Brain Types. Our focus now shifts to the 11 combination Brain Types along with the distinguishing characteristics, diet plan, and supplement recommendations for each type.

But first, a brief recap of the 5 primary Brain Types:

Brain Type 1

Individuals with Brain Type 1 typically show full, even, symmetrical activity throughout the brain, with the most activity in the cerebellum – one of the brain’s major processing centers.

People with Brain Type 1 tend to live longer because of their high level of conscientiousness. They show up on time and follow through on tasks. They usually don’t take big risks and play by the rules.

Although Brain Type 1 is the optimum brain type, the “use it or lose it” rule applies.

Brain Type 2

Individuals with Brain Type 2 usually show lower activity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in brain scans. The PFC is the brain’s brake system. It can help people think before they speak or act.

Brain Type 2 may be associated with lower activity of dopamine, a neurotransmitter involved with focus and motivation. People with this Brain Type are likely to need excitement or stimulation to stay focused.

Smokers and heavy coffee drinkers also tend to fit this type, as they use these substances to stimulate their brains.

Brain Type 3

Individuals with Brain Type 3 are often tenacious, persistent, and sometimes stubborn. They tend to struggle with worry, have trouble sleeping, and like things to be done a certain way.

Those with Brain Type 3 often have increased activity in the front part of the brain called the anterior cingulate gyrus (ACG). The ACG influences your ability to “go with the flow.” When the ACG is overactive, probably due to low activity of serotonin, people can have problems shifting attention.

People with Brain Type 3 don’t need more stimulation. In fact, caffeine and diet pills tend to make them worse.

Brain Type 4

Brain Type 4 individuals tend to show increased activity in the limbic (or emotional) centers of the brain, making them highly sensitive and empathic, but also subject to mood issues. People with this Brain Type may struggle with constant negative thoughts and pessimistic tendencies.

Brain Type 5

Brain scans of individuals with Brain Type 5 often show heightened activity in the anxiety centers of the brain, such as the basal ganglia, insular cortex, and/or amygdala. This is probably linked to lower activity of the neurotransmitter GABA, which helps calm the brain.

People with this brain type tend to be motivated toward a goal. They can feel intense pleasure, but also struggle with feeling anxious or nervous, which causes them to be more cautious and reserved, but also more prepared.

Now, here are the 11 combination Brain Types…

Here Are the 11 Combination Brain Types – Character Traits and Lifestyle Recommendations

Which Brain Type Are You? Take the Brain Health Assessment Today!

Core Character Traits for Brain Types 6-16

Individuals with Brain Types 6-16 typically show lower activity in the PFC. The PFC can keep them from saying or doing things that aren’t in their best interest. It also can curb creative, out-of-the-box thinking when it works too hard.

Studies show that Brain Types 6-16 may also be associated with lower dopamine levels. People with this Brain Type are likely to need excitement or stimulation to stay focused.

Those with Brain Types 6-16 can be strong-willed, choosy, and persistent. They may struggle with worry and have sleep issues.

In addition, people with Brain Types 6-16 often have increased activity in their ACG. As the brain’s gear shifter, the ACG is involved with mental flexibility. An overactive ACG can create attention issues or harmful thoughts and behaviors.

Core Diet Plan for Brain Types 6-16

  • Proteins: Protein-rich foods provide amino acids our body needs to create neurotransmitters such as serotonin (to boost mood, motivation, and positive thinking) and dopamine (to maintain focus, increase learning, and manage emotional reactions).
    • Regularity of protein (every few hours) creates provides satiety, balanced blood sugar, and can help prevent symptoms of anxiety.
    • Eat some form of protein at every meal or snack.
    • Easy snack options:
      • small apple with almond butter
      • blueberries with walnuts
      • small protein smoothie
    • Meals should include pasture-raised, organic chicken, fish, beef, lamb, hemp, eggs, or a plant-based protein powder.
  • Carbohydrates: Focus on getting most of your carbohydrates from vegetables by adding them to meals whenever possible. Other carbohydrates should be low-glycemic, high-fiber, unrefined, and organic whenever possible.
  • Prebiotic fibers: leeks, onions, raw garlic, sunchoke, raw chicory root, raw asparagus, raw dandelion greens.
    • Vegetables: 6-8 servings per day
    • Whole fruits: 1-2 servings per day
  • Gluten-free whole grains: 1 serving per day (wild/brown rice, quinoa, buckwheat, millet, amaranth, gluten-free whole oats, and teff)
  • Hydration: drink at least half your body weight (lbs.) in ounces of filtered water each day.

Brain Type 6

The best strategy to balance Brain Type 6 is to find natural ways to boost both dopamine and serotonin.

Brain Healthy Nutrition

Your brain is the most energy-hungry organ in your body, using 25% of the calories you consume. One of the quickest ways to achieve better brain function is to identify which foods you should choose and which foods you should lose. Eat right so you can think right!

Dietary Recommendations

Your Type 6 brain needs a diet that’s balanced in high-quality proteins and complex carbohydrates. This type of diet will help balance your blood sugar, help you focus, and provide the necessary building blocks for brain health by naturally boosting dopamine and serotonin levels.

Brain Supporting Supplements

Brain-directed supplements can support your physical and mental energy levels. It’s recommended for everyone to take daily essentials plus additional supplements tailored to your specific Brain Type.

Daily Vitamin Packs | Brain & Body Power | BrainMD Recommended Supplements for Brain Type 6

Brain & Body Power

We’ve combined our daily essentials into easy-to-use, on-the-go packets. Each packet of Brain & Body Power contains the following supplements:

NeuroVite Plus – a powerful combination of more than 50 vitamins, minerals and plant extracts in their most efficient and bioavailable forms, NeuroVite Plus nourishes all the body’s cells, tissues, and organs.

Brain & Memory Power Boost – this brain-boosting formula delivers your body specialized, brain directed ingredients to support the brain’s energy, connectivity, and overall performance.

Omega-3 Power – gel capsules of the purest, most powerful form of omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA (without the fishy aftertaste) to promote healthy cognition, including recall and retention, focus and concentration, and mood and behavior.

Focus & Energy

A natural, non-habit forming blend of adaptogens and energizing herbs (green tea extract, ginseng, rhodiola, choline, and ashwagandha), Focus & Energy helps support mental sharpness and productivity.

Brain Type 7

The best way to balance Brain Type 7 is to find natural ways to boost dopamine, serotonin, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin D.

Dietary Recommendations

Your Type 7 brain needs a diet that is balanced in high-quality proteins and complex carbohydrates. This type of diet will help balance your blood sugar, help you focus, and provide the necessary building blocks for brain health.

Recommended Supplements for Brain Type 7

Same as Brain Type 6.

Brain Type 8

An effective strategy for balancing Brain Type 8 is to find natural ways to boost dopamine, serotonin, and GABA. Magnesium and theanine can also help, as can optimizing levels of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D.

Dietary Recommendations

Same as Brain Type 7.

Recommended Supplements for Brain Type 8

Brain & Body Power (see description above on type 6)

NeuroLink – Feeling irritable or sad for no reason? NeuroLink helps to balance emotional ups and downs by delivering an exclusive blend of key nutrients to neurotransmitters in your brain helping you to feel tranquil and clear.

Brain Type 9

You can balance Brain Type 9 by finding natural ways to increase serotonin and GABA. Physical exercise boosts serotonin, as does using a combination of certain supplements, such as 5-HTP and saffron. Magnesium and theanine can also help, as can optimizing levels of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D.

Dietary Recommendations

Same as Brain Type 7.

Recommended Supplements for Brain Type 9

Same as Brain Type 6.

Brain Type 10

To help balance Brain Type 10, try to find natural ways to boost serotonin, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin D.

Dietary Recommendations

Your Type 10 brain needs a diet that is lower in protein and higher in complex carbohydrates. This type of diet will provide the necessary building blocks for optimal brain health.

Recommended Supplements for Brain Type 10

Brain & Body Power (see description above on type 6)

Serotonin Mood Support – Serotonin Mood Support contains a patented form of saffron along with other key nutrients that help to promote calmness, positive mood, serotonin balance, and even healthy weight management.

Brain Type 11

You can balance Brain Type 11 by boosting serotonin and GABA. Magnesium and theanine can also help, as can optimizing levels of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D.

Dietary Recommendations

Your Type 11 brain needs a diet that’s lower in protein and higher in complex carbohydrates. This type of diet will boost serotonin and GABA levels naturally.

Recommended Supplements for Brain Type 11

Same as Brain Type 6.

Brain Type 12

The best way to balance Brain Type 12 is to find natural options for boosting dopamine, serotonin, and GABA. Magnesium and theanine can also help, as can optimizing levels of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D.

Dietary Recommendations

Your Type 12 brain needs a diet that’s balanced in high-quality proteins and complex carbohydrates. This type of diet will help increase serotonin and dopamine naturally.

Recommended Supplements for Brain Type 12

Same as Brain Type 6.

Brain Type 13

Balance Brain Type 13 by finding natural ways to boost dopamine and GABA. Magnesium and theanine can also help, as can optimizing levels of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D.

Dietary Recommendations

Same as Brain Type 7.

Recommended Supplements for Brain Type 13

Same as Brain Type 6.

Brain Type 14

The best way to balance Brain Type 14 is naturally with dopamine, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin D.

Dietary Recommendations

Same as Brain Type 7.

Recommended Supplements for Brain Type 14

Same as Brain Type 6.

Brain Type 15

The best strategy to balance Brain Type 15 is to find natural ways to boost dopamine and GABA. Magnesium and theanine can also help, as can optimizing levels of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D.

Dietary Recommendations

Your Type 15 brain needs a diet that is balanced in high-quality proteins and complex carbohydrates. This type of diet will help raise GABA and dopamine levels naturally.

Recommended Supplements for Brain Type 15

Same as Brain Type 6.

Brain Type 16

To balance Brain Type 16, look for natural ways to boost dopamine and GABA. Magnesium and theanine can also help, as can omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin D.

Dietary Recommendations

Same as Brain Type 15.

Recommended Supplements for Brain Type 16

Brain & Body Power (see description above on type 6)

SAMe Mood & Movement 400 – provides SAMe (S-AdenosylMethionine), a nutrient with very high energy that helps power numerous enzymes important for the brain, joints, liver, muscles, and other organs. SAMe is fundamental to the body’s renewal, repair, and overall well-being.

So, which of the 16 Brain Types are you? The best way to know for sure is to take the Brain Health Assessment.

Brain Health Assessment

Take Dr. Amen's Brain Health Assessment to Learn Your Brain Type Maybe you’ve taken an online personality quiz in the past. Though such tests can occasionally offer helpful information, most fail to consider an individual’s health habits and personal history. In many cases, they also neglect to include an improvement plan.

Another problem with online tests is that they typically aren’t backed by science. Worse still, they frequently place people into rigid categories that can discourage, confuse, or even stigmatize the test taker.

With so many poorly designed tests flooding cyberspace, we’re proud to present the Brain Health Assessment (BHA), a science-based, paradigm-shattering personality test. This one-of-a-kind online test:

  • Was developed by Dr. Daniel G. Amen, a double board-certified psychiatrist who has been practicing for over 40 years.
  • Is powered by the world’s largest database of functional brain scans – 160,000 and growing.
  • Incorporates extensive research – Amen Clinics has published over 70 clinical studies on brain health.
  • Is based on the combined clinical experience of a team of Amen-trained doctors who have worked with patients from 120 countries.

Backed by decades of research, the results of the BHA will give you a personalized report that measures your overall health and includes recommended improvement strategies based on your Brain Type.

Just as identifying your abilities, interests, and skills can help you become a more well-rounded, successful person, knowing your Brain Type can help you better understand who you are and why you do what you do. These insights can help you know what mental/brain health risks you may face, which can potentially impact your future career and relationships in significant ways.

Discover Your Brain Type

To discover your Brain Type, take the free online BHA quiz. It only takes about 5 minutes to complete and your answers are strictly confidential.

Discover the tool that has helped millions of people increase their energy, sharpen their focus, and optimize their brain. You can find out your Brain Type in just a few minutes, so start now.

At BrainMD, we’re dedicated to providing the highest purity nutrients to improve your physical health and overall well-being. For more information about our full list of brain healthy supplements, please visit us at BrainMD.

 

Keith Rowe
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