In recent studies, conducted by Neuroscientists Jaeggi and other german neuroscientist with an impronunciable lastname, it was found that fluid intelligence, which previously believed to be genetically hard-wired from birth, could be improved by working memory (WM) training.
The study was conducted with the participants being young-healthy students.
the subjects and a control group both took a problem solving task and an IQ test, the subjects were trained in WM using the Dual-n-Back training approach. the controls masturbated. (i.e. did something completely irelevant) . after 19 days, both groups were tested again, the group who did the WM training, performed much better than before the training, and also much better than the controls, who spanked the monkey.
A remarkable feat worth mentioning, is that in the IQ tests took by the subjects, the group who trained WM, had gains of 20-25 IQ points.
Here is an Dual-n-Back applet i´ve found online
For a 20 or 25 point boost its worth to try! ;)
Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta training. Mostrar todas las entradas
Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta training. Mostrar todas las entradas
sábado, 8 de agosto de 2009
viernes, 21 de marzo de 2008
The TAO of the brain
As neuroscience knows nowadays, you must use a specified skill in order to improve the neural network in your brain that handles that task.
it seems simple right?, two steps,
1) design a functional neural network (by modelling or by trial and error it doesn´t matter much) and 2) strenghten the network by repeated use.
it all seems too easy, however there are things to be considered in order to get the max out of your practice.
These are:
1) Moderation/Overtraining : As you know your brain needs a downtime in which it rebuilds and improves what you have practiced.
Have you ever been suck in some issue that you could not solve, you left it alone, took a nap perhaps, or did something else and when you came back, *PRESTO* you solved it on the spot.
if you keep on exerting and using a certain circuit on your brain, it will cause, over a period of time, brain fatigue on that specific circuit, which leads to our dear friend STRESS, an enemy of the mind and overall health, as you may know.
2) The Protoss Syndrome : The Protoss are an old race in the starcraft universe, a civilization that is very old and heavily set on its ways.
how, this relates to brain practice, you ask? Simple, once you´ve reached a high point on your practice that you´ve mastered something to a degree, you´ve reached what is called a plateau of improvement, at this point practice will have little effect,it is advised that you lessen the LENGTH of your practice gradually , and begin a new practice, by doing this you will allow novel experiences to build new networks while maintaining the old.
when a circuit its set strong on your brain it only needs maintenance, heavy practice is only to install a new circuit or enhance the pattern by lowering firing threshold.
remember that the brain tends to ignore redundant information, and habitual tasks become automated.
you can progress anyway if you keep hammering on a plateau, BUT it will take *MUCH* more time and energy, and you make your mistakes harder to refine if you hammer too much.
so in order to maximize your results, it is recommendable that you cycle your trainings when you have achieved a level and are STUCK there. switch to mainenance mode AND do something else, start a new discipline, THEN when the scenario repeats itself, refocus on your previous training, switch back to practice mode and let the new networks aid you on the task.
you´ll see yourself making steady progress again.
remember Einsteins´ wise words " A problem cannot be solved with the same level of conciousness that arose " .
and by all means, NEVER QUIT ON A PLATEAU!
be sure to go back to your training after you fed up your brain.
Remember to refine and change your practice methods now and then.
Above all,
Remember to keep your balance allways while evolving at the same time.
refresh your mental inventory,
Dinosaurs are bound to be exctinct. and Paleontology proves me right.
Bye for now.
it seems simple right?, two steps,
1) design a functional neural network (by modelling or by trial and error it doesn´t matter much) and 2) strenghten the network by repeated use.
"too much of a good thing is not always better"
it all seems too easy, however there are things to be considered in order to get the max out of your practice.
These are:
1) Moderation/Overtraining : As you know your brain needs a downtime in which it rebuilds and improves what you have practiced.
Have you ever been suck in some issue that you could not solve, you left it alone, took a nap perhaps, or did something else and when you came back, *PRESTO* you solved it on the spot.
if you keep on exerting and using a certain circuit on your brain, it will cause, over a period of time, brain fatigue on that specific circuit, which leads to our dear friend STRESS, an enemy of the mind and overall health, as you may know.
"too much of a good thing is not always better"
2) The Protoss Syndrome : The Protoss are an old race in the starcraft universe, a civilization that is very old and heavily set on its ways.
how, this relates to brain practice, you ask? Simple, once you´ve reached a high point on your practice that you´ve mastered something to a degree, you´ve reached what is called a plateau of improvement, at this point practice will have little effect,it is advised that you lessen the LENGTH of your practice gradually , and begin a new practice, by doing this you will allow novel experiences to build new networks while maintaining the old.
when a circuit its set strong on your brain it only needs maintenance, heavy practice is only to install a new circuit or enhance the pattern by lowering firing threshold.
remember that the brain tends to ignore redundant information, and habitual tasks become automated.
you can progress anyway if you keep hammering on a plateau, BUT it will take *MUCH* more time and energy, and you make your mistakes harder to refine if you hammer too much.
so in order to maximize your results, it is recommendable that you cycle your trainings when you have achieved a level and are STUCK there. switch to mainenance mode AND do something else, start a new discipline, THEN when the scenario repeats itself, refocus on your previous training, switch back to practice mode and let the new networks aid you on the task.
you´ll see yourself making steady progress again.
remember Einsteins´ wise words " A problem cannot be solved with the same level of conciousness that arose " .
and by all means, NEVER QUIT ON A PLATEAU!
be sure to go back to your training after you fed up your brain.
Remember to refine and change your practice methods now and then.
Above all,
Remember to keep your balance allways while evolving at the same time.
refresh your mental inventory,
Dinosaurs are bound to be exctinct. and Paleontology proves me right.
Bye for now.
sábado, 22 de diciembre de 2007
Summary - Brain Training II
G In a Nutshell
- solve situational puzzles.
- Roleplay.
- Fix things on your own house without ANY help.
- Take classes on a miscelaneous interest.
- Create a painting, story or piece of music.
- figure out something without relying on the instructions.
- produce humor.
- be stress-free. :)
Bye for now.
Brain Training II - Part B
now that you have eliminated stress you can begin considering working on your fluid intelligence.
There are two ways to the G spot ---> NOVELTY and CREATIVITY
Novelty, novel, new, unfamiliar, strange... that which can make you feel insecure, excited and shakes your ground, THESE situations are the of kind that you want.
by facing novel challenges you gain experience and new valuable neurodes. if you feel confused it is usually a good sign, it means that your brain will have to do some work to make sense of the dynamic that you´re involved in. you will have to make a creative effort to bring about a new understanding. wich implies creating a new neu-ral network to handle the situation, the brain will have to rewire itself.
+ CONNECTIONS = + VERSATITLIY = + INTELLIGENCE
You can learn a new language, or master a random, yet useful, skill.
It´s gotta be something NEW, and something MEANINGFUL to you.
the main idea is challenging your gray matter with something unexpected, regularly.
But this is half of the equation.... You still need
TO USE WHAT YOU KNOW TO PRODUCE WHAT YOU DON´T
Create, Create, Create
You are a MasterMind, you were meant to create, your brain works by association, and this is core the principle of creativity. Unleash a creative thunderstorm which will crystalize something BRAND NEW onto reality, mix unrelated things and cook on your head something marvelous. just for the kick of it.
by creating you are using the ultimate brain training. you are stepping out of the habitual patterns of thinking. you use all your crystalized-database arsenal in your mind oven using the fire of your creative flame.
Write a Fictional story, Draw a portait, Program an applet or game, Become a mangaka, Sort out your knowlegde and ideas by blogging.
when you produce you take your technical and theoretical knowledge to another level.
Try it. you will see that without mastery, you cannot materialize creation nor transmit the knowlege to other beings properly.
All intellectual work must be productive, otherwise is useless
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bottomline:
There are two ways to the G spot ---> NOVELTY and CREATIVITY
Novelty, novel, new, unfamiliar, strange... that which can make you feel insecure, excited and shakes your ground, THESE situations are the of kind that you want.
by facing novel challenges you gain experience and new valuable neurodes. if you feel confused it is usually a good sign, it means that your brain will have to do some work to make sense of the dynamic that you´re involved in. you will have to make a creative effort to bring about a new understanding. wich implies creating a new neu-ral network to handle the situation, the brain will have to rewire itself.
+ CONNECTIONS = + VERSATITLIY = + INTELLIGENCE
You can learn a new language, or master a random, yet useful, skill.
It´s gotta be something NEW, and something MEANINGFUL to you.
the main idea is challenging your gray matter with something unexpected, regularly.
conquering challenges is the spice of life.
But this is half of the equation.... You still need
TO USE WHAT YOU KNOW TO PRODUCE WHAT YOU DON´T
Create, Create, Create
You are a MasterMind, you were meant to create, your brain works by association, and this is core the principle of creativity. Unleash a creative thunderstorm which will crystalize something BRAND NEW onto reality, mix unrelated things and cook on your head something marvelous. just for the kick of it.
by creating you are using the ultimate brain training. you are stepping out of the habitual patterns of thinking. you use all your crystalized-database arsenal in your mind oven using the fire of your creative flame.
Write a Fictional story, Draw a portait, Program an applet or game, Become a mangaka, Sort out your knowlegde and ideas by blogging.
when you produce you take your technical and theoretical knowledge to another level.
Try it. you will see that without mastery, you cannot materialize creation nor transmit the knowlege to other beings properly.
All intellectual work must be productive, otherwise is useless
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bottomline:
Creation is the ultimate brain training.
Brain Training II - Part A
To recap.
Fluid intelligence reflects the efficient online functioning of the central nervous system, solving new abstract reasoning problems
Crystallized intelligence reflects individually acquired knowledge/skills and culture-specific content
So let´s focus on fluid intelligence.
This type of intelligence is very desirable, it is involved and heavily interwined with creativity, you can access this beauty when you are stress-free, relaxed. otherwise it is immediately shut down, reverting the brain to a more primitive reflex-based reaction machine.
Before you curse Charles Darwing´s mama, remember that this WAS useful when life or death situations were every day´s history. However, in these days it works against us.
The first key to developing and harnessing this power is to RELAX.
to do this consider the following:
1 - avoiding stressful situations. duh.
identify the situations that bug you, actually sit down with pen and paper, list them one by one.
then if it is possible eliminate them, if not, reduce them, if you cannot do that either, elaborate an ideal response (this will get your creative juices flowing) and rehearse it on your mind until it becomes automatic. if you can perform in an honorable manner, preserving your status much of your stress will be cut down considerably.
it is very important that you create this list on paper, doing this you OBJECTIFY IT, remember that you strip a demon of its power by identyfing and analizing it.
Summary: List -> Avoid -> Reduce -> Prepare (win the frame)
Keyword: LARP
2 - Exercise
This is almost like a mantra today. "Cardiovascular excercise is good for you"
Why:
A) It Releases Endorphins
B) Increases Bloodflow to your brain
C) It promotes the growth of new brain cells.
D) Eliminates Toxins from your bloodstream
E) Fights Aging, increases bone density.
F) Increases sexual appeal, desire and stamina.
G) Rises metabolic rate.
3 - Laugh.
Humor releases stress. if nothing else, laugh a lot. it will lessen a HUGE burden out of your shoulders. be lighthearted, you will feel better, and smarter.
being grumpy is old-fashioned.
4 - Drink
no, not booze, mind you. Lots of water is what you need in order to keep your head clean and flush the toxins out of your body. your urine must be clear, NEVER yellow.
minium 3 Liters of pure-water,infutions and soft drinks do not count, daily , distributed trough the day.
5 - Sex
As if you needed extra encouragement, sex releases endorphins and releases stress.
6 - Brain-Wave entrainment.
Theta is the frequency related to creativity, whereas Alpha is relaxed yet firm awareness.
Hook up your PC headphones to this program and spend at least 20 minutes daily on these frequencies.
if you´re heavily depleted try delta frequencies.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Get this if nothing else
In a nutshell, use your BLADES, to cut out stress for good.
Brain Wave Training
Laughing a Lot
Avoid Shitty situations
Drink Lots of water
Exercise
Sex
Keyword : BLADES
Fluid intelligence reflects the efficient online functioning of the central nervous system, solving new abstract reasoning problems
Crystallized intelligence reflects individually acquired knowledge/skills and culture-specific content
So let´s focus on fluid intelligence.
This type of intelligence is very desirable, it is involved and heavily interwined with creativity, you can access this beauty when you are stress-free, relaxed. otherwise it is immediately shut down, reverting the brain to a more primitive reflex-based reaction machine.
Before you curse Charles Darwing´s mama, remember that this WAS useful when life or death situations were every day´s history. However, in these days it works against us.
The first key to developing and harnessing this power is to RELAX.
to do this consider the following:
1 - avoiding stressful situations. duh.
identify the situations that bug you, actually sit down with pen and paper, list them one by one.
then if it is possible eliminate them, if not, reduce them, if you cannot do that either, elaborate an ideal response (this will get your creative juices flowing) and rehearse it on your mind until it becomes automatic. if you can perform in an honorable manner, preserving your status much of your stress will be cut down considerably.
it is very important that you create this list on paper, doing this you OBJECTIFY IT, remember that you strip a demon of its power by identyfing and analizing it.
Summary: List -> Avoid -> Reduce -> Prepare (win the frame)
Keyword: LARP
2 - Exercise
This is almost like a mantra today. "Cardiovascular excercise is good for you"
Why:
A) It Releases Endorphins
B) Increases Bloodflow to your brain
C) It promotes the growth of new brain cells.
D) Eliminates Toxins from your bloodstream
E) Fights Aging, increases bone density.
F) Increases sexual appeal, desire and stamina.
G) Rises metabolic rate.
3 - Laugh.
Humor releases stress. if nothing else, laugh a lot. it will lessen a HUGE burden out of your shoulders. be lighthearted, you will feel better, and smarter.
being grumpy is old-fashioned.
4 - Drink
no, not booze, mind you. Lots of water is what you need in order to keep your head clean and flush the toxins out of your body. your urine must be clear, NEVER yellow.
minium 3 Liters of pure-water,infutions and soft drinks do not count, daily , distributed trough the day.
5 - Sex
As if you needed extra encouragement, sex releases endorphins and releases stress.
6 - Brain-Wave entrainment.
Theta is the frequency related to creativity, whereas Alpha is relaxed yet firm awareness.
Hook up your PC headphones to this program and spend at least 20 minutes daily on these frequencies.
if you´re heavily depleted try delta frequencies.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Get this if nothing else
STRESS turns you into a MACHINE, machines do NOT think, they follow orders.
In a nutshell, use your BLADES, to cut out stress for good.
Brain Wave Training
Laughing a Lot
Avoid Shitty situations
Drink Lots of water
Exercise
Sex
Keyword : BLADES
viernes, 23 de noviembre de 2007
Brain Trainings - Part I
Training your brain is like training a muscle, you will develop its power to the extent it is challenged.
The most crucial factor on human existence is intelligence, if you think deeply enough; it sets a baseline for practically everything you do. Even feelings are learned emotional responses to simuli.
I´ve been studying Howard Gardener´s Model, which is more appealing to me
he claims that intelligence is not unidimentional. rather, he says that there are 7 sets of skills, called "intelligences". you can read these here. i´ve been thinking about his model and made it my own, Here it is.
Skills that compound my version of crystalized intelligence:
*Logical (Math, Sequences, What comes next?)
*Recognition of patterns (deals with categorization)
*Discrimination of non-equals.(being sensory input, or differeneces between concepts)
*Working memory (Ability to hold taks relevant data on memory while thinking/performing)
*Encoding (The Skill to process, learn and Understand)
*Behavioural (Interpretation/Execution)
*Social/Emotional T(The ability to perform a behaviour to get a specific response from other people; or to identify and respond to behavioural patterns)
*Spiritual (Ability to interact with the quantum field)
I´ve been browsing. and i´ve found some interesting sites, worth to check out to develop and gain some extra crystalized intelligence
http://www.lumosity.com (Trains Attention, Memory, Pattern Recognition, Cognitive Control) *Requires registration (free)
http://cognitivelabs.com/alltests.htm (Trains Attention, Advanced decition making, working memory, spatial awareness)
http://www.brainarena.com/league.jsp (This is a ranked time-based set of simple drills, gradually builds difficulty) [Trains:speedy accuracy, cognitive control] However, these are way too easy, its only worth to try if you´re willing to wait until you classify for a more advanced set of exercises.
http://www.tetris1d.org/zigah/twinoo/twinoo.php (A very addictive gizmo, solve left brain and right brain exercises before the time runs out, [Trains: multitasking, focus, speedy accuracy]
http://militantplatypus.com/games/gamepage.php?game=crossword (Teases your linguistic intelligence, builds up gradually)
http://www.planarity.net/# [Spatial Intelligence puzzle]
http://www.memorise.org/memoryGym.htm [General Memory: Working Memory, Auditory, Visual, you name it; several applets]
http://www.novelgames.com/flashgames/game.php?id=88 [Ilation and your ability to plan beforehand]
http://www.gamesforthebrain.com/spanish/counterfeit/ [Train the infamous O- Powers + Visual Acuity ]
http://www.zanorg.com/prodperso/jeuxchiants/doublejeu.htm [Kinesthetic Coordination + Active Planning]
http://www.novelgames.com/flashgames/game.php?id=16 [Heavy Mathematical workout + Pattern Recognition]
This is it for now.
next post: G or fluid intelligence
Pump up that brain
Have fun.
The most crucial factor on human existence is intelligence, if you think deeply enough; it sets a baseline for practically everything you do. Even feelings are learned emotional responses to simuli.
I´ve been studying Howard Gardener´s Model, which is more appealing to me
he claims that intelligence is not unidimentional. rather, he says that there are 7 sets of skills, called "intelligences". you can read these here. i´ve been thinking about his model and made it my own, Here it is.
Skills that compound my version of crystalized intelligence:
*Logical (Math, Sequences, What comes next?)
*Recognition of patterns (deals with categorization)
*Discrimination of non-equals.(being sensory input, or differeneces between concepts)
*Working memory (Ability to hold taks relevant data on memory while thinking/performing)
*Encoding (The Skill to process, learn and Understand)
*Behavioural (Interpretation/Execution)
*Social/Emotional T(The ability to perform a behaviour to get a specific response from other people; or to identify and respond to behavioural patterns)
*Spiritual (Ability to interact with the quantum field)
I´ve been browsing. and i´ve found some interesting sites, worth to check out to develop and gain some extra crystalized intelligence
http://www.lumosity.com (Trains Attention, Memory, Pattern Recognition, Cognitive Control) *Requires registration (free)
http://cognitivelabs.com/alltests.htm (Trains Attention, Advanced decition making, working memory, spatial awareness)
http://www.brainarena.com/league.jsp (This is a ranked time-based set of simple drills, gradually builds difficulty) [Trains:speedy accuracy, cognitive control] However, these are way too easy, its only worth to try if you´re willing to wait until you classify for a more advanced set of exercises.
http://www.tetris1d.org/zigah/twinoo/twinoo.php (A very addictive gizmo, solve left brain and right brain exercises before the time runs out, [Trains: multitasking, focus, speedy accuracy]
http://militantplatypus.com/games/gamepage.php?game=crossword (Teases your linguistic intelligence, builds up gradually)
http://www.planarity.net/# [Spatial Intelligence puzzle]
http://www.memorise.org/memoryGym.htm [General Memory: Working Memory, Auditory, Visual, you name it; several applets]
http://www.novelgames.com/flashgames/game.php?id=88 [Ilation and your ability to plan beforehand]
http://www.gamesforthebrain.com/spanish/counterfeit/ [Train the infamous O- Powers + Visual Acuity ]
http://www.zanorg.com/prodperso/jeuxchiants/doublejeu.htm [Kinesthetic Coordination + Active Planning]
http://www.novelgames.com/flashgames/game.php?id=16 [Heavy Mathematical workout + Pattern Recognition]
This is it for now.
next post: G or fluid intelligence
Pump up that brain
Have fun.
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