It’s shimmery beige pink. An overgrown garden. A painting by Mr Jackson Pollock. When it comes to describing what the brain looks like, Dr Rahul Jandial is definitely creative. He also knows what he’s talking about, since the American brain surgeon spends 18-hour days working on the ol’ beige-pink matter.

Dr Jandial’s new book, Life Lessons From A Brain Surgeon: The New Science And Stories Of The Brain, is in part, a vivid descriptor of what goes on inside our heads. The squeamish should skim-read the sections where he describes taking a scalpel to it. The rest of it, though, is about using your noodle to smarten up. Here are six astute takeaways of how best to boost your brain.

There are about 85 billion neurons between your ears. To retain them, however, Dr Jandial advises keeping your brain cells busy. Brain mapping has shown that different parts of it handle different languages; learning a second, therefore, will fire up additional brain cells. Researchers at the University of Birmingham found that bilingual volunteers, switching between languages, were more focused and attentive than those with only the mother tongue.

Before you download an app to “Teach Yourself Mandarin In Seven Days Flat”, however, Dr Jandial suggests you let your head relax. “The brain, you see, is not a computer, despite oft-repeated claims to the contrary,” writes the LA-based neuroscientist. “The brain is a living thing, much more like an over-grown garden than an orderly filing cabinet. And mind-wandering through your own garden of thoughts, memories, feelings, and desires is a sure way to discover your inner creative self.”

Hey, top boffins recommend it! “Doing LSD was one of the two or three most important things I have done in my life,” said Mr Steve Jobs, though Dr Jandial is a little more judicious. Psychedelic drugs temporarily dissemble the parts of the brain that govern executive and planning function, which gives creativity a chance to flourish. But the good doctor suggests we stick to wholesome highs, such as moderate caffeine intake and the mental recharge we get from hikes and naps – all of which have been shown to give the brain a lift.

Mindful breathing can strengthen connections between the amygdala, the area of the brain where strong emotions are processed, and the prefrontal cortex, the brain’s chief executive officer. But why is this important?  Because stronger connections can help temper negative emotions, and because mindfulness has also been shown to strengthen the brain’s decision making and impulse control.

Dr Jandial doesn’t do breakfast. Instead, he recommends intermittent fasting twice a week for 16 hours. Forcing your body to burn its fat reserves like this turns them into ketones – a backup energy source that can help improve cognition, grow the connections between neurons and stave off neurodegeneration. And what does a brain surgeon need? A high level of concentration and a steady hand, which is why he doesn’t do coffee in the mornings either.

Your brain has the ability to change continuously throughout its lifetime. This plasticity – the potential to be altered – is good for growth, development and in everyday functioning. If you are right-handed, but try to do more with your left, this is that flexibility in action – as idle neurons or cells are called up to lend a, ahem, hand. Neuroplasticity, as it is called, is especially important if you were to suffer a head injury or develop a brain disease, because undamaged parts of the brain can be potentially called upon to help you function. For a simple demonstration, try engaging your brain’s GPS. The hippocampus – the main area of the brain for memory – has unique neurons for guiding you through a city or subway. So next time you reach for Google Maps, the good doctor advises you switch on your internal compass instead. It will help you develop valuable spatial orientation skills.

_Life Lessons From A Brain Surgeon: The New Science And Stories Of The Brain _(Penguin Life) by Dr Rahul Jandial is out now