http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2006/10/12/an-ape-can-do-this-can-we-not/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=an-ape-can-do-this-can-we-not Neuroplasticity, Brain Fitness and Cognitive Health News Thu, 02 Feb 2012 02:53:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2006/10/12/an-ape-can-do-this-can-we-not/comment-page-1/#comment-116090 » Brain Evolution and Why it is Meaningful Today to Improve Our Brain Health   « Brain Fitness Revolution at SharpBrains      Fri, 28 Dec 2007 03:41:27 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2006/10/12/an-ape-can-do-this-can-we-not/#comment-116090 [...] Over the last months, thanks to the traffic growth of SharpBrains.com (over 100,000 unique visitors per month these days, THANK YOU for visiting today and please come back!), a number of proactive book agents, publishers and authors have contacted us to inform us of their latest brain-related books. We have taken a look at many books, wrote reviews of The Dana Guide to Brain Health book review and Best of the Brain from Scientific American, and interviewed scientists such as Judith Beck, Robert Emmons and James Zull. [...] […] Over the last months, thanks to the traffic growth of SharpBrains.com (over 100,000 unique visitors per month these days, THANK YOU for visiting today and please come back!), a number of proactive book agents, publishers and authors have contacted us to inform us of their latest brain-related books. We have taken a look at many books, wrote reviews of The Dana Guide to Brain Health book review and Best of the Brain from Scientific American, and interviewed scientists such as Judith Beck, Robert Emmons and James Zull. […]

]]> http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2006/10/12/an-ape-can-do-this-can-we-not/comment-page-1/#comment-113217 » Lifelong Learning Is Changing My Brain   « Brain Fitness Revolution at SharpBrains      Fri, 21 Dec 2007 17:35:16 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2006/10/12/an-ape-can-do-this-can-we-not/#comment-113217 [...] 1) First of all, one of key rules for brain fitness is learning. In SharpBrains I immediately got to experience what a great learning culture can be all about – from key insights in entrepreneurship to how to make creative videos and writing for the web. The urge for constant learning is both fun and stimulating – and I appreciate Alvaro’s suggestion to write this post. [...] […] 1) First of all, one of key rules for brain fitness is learning. In SharpBrains I immediately got to experience what a great learning culture can be all about – from key insights in entrepreneurship to how to make creative videos and writing for the web. The urge for constant learning is both fun and stimulating – and I appreciate Alvaro’s suggestion to write this post. […]

]]> http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2006/10/12/an-ape-can-do-this-can-we-not/comment-page-1/#comment-85023 » Cognitive Fitness @ Harvard Business Review   « Brain Fitness Revolution at SharpBrains      Tue, 30 Oct 2007 07:22:20 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2006/10/12/an-ape-can-do-this-can-we-not/#comment-85023 [...] The Harvard Business Review just published (thanks Catherine!) this article on Cognitive Fitness, by Roderick Gilkey and Clint Kilts. We are happy to see the growing interest on how to maintain healthy and productive brains, from a broadening number of quarters. The article provides a pretty good introduction to general brain research, yet could have gone further in the assessment, training and recommendations sections and given voice to actual neuroscientists (and I can say that because I am not one, but learn much every time I talk to one). In such an emerging field, though, going one step at a time makes sense. The HBR Description of the article: Recent neuroscientific research shows that the health of your brain isn't, as experts once thought, just the product of childhood experiences and genetics; it reflects your adult choices and experiences as well. Professors Gilkey and Kilts of Emory University's medical and business schools explain how you can strengthen your brain's anatomy, neural networks, and cognitive abilities, and prevent functions such as memory from deteriorating as you age. The brain's alertness is the result of what the authors call cognitive fitness--a state of optimized ability to reason, remember, learn, plan, and adapt. Certain attitudes, lifestyle choices, and exercises enhance cognitive fitness. Mental workouts are the key. Brain-imaging studies indicate that acquiring expertise in areas as diverse as playing a cello, juggling, speaking a foreign language, and driving a taxicab expands your neural systems and makes them more communicative. In other words, you can alter the physical makeup of your brain by learning new skills. The more cognitively fit you are, the better equipped you are to make decisions, solve problems, and deal with stress and change. Cognitive fitness will help you be more open to new ideas and alternative perspectives. It will give you the capacity to change your behavior and realize your goals. You can delay senescence for years and even enjoy a second career. Drawing from the rapidly expanding body of neuroscientific research as well as from well-established research in psychology and other mental health fields, the authors have identified four steps you can take to become cognitively fit: understand how experience makes the brain grow, work hard at play, search for patterns, and seek novelty and innovation. Together these steps capture some of the key opportunities for maintaining an engaged, creative brain. The authors do mention part of the research done by Dr. Elkhonon Goldberg (our co-founder and Chief Scientific Advisor) on pattern-recognition. You will enjoy reading his thoughts directly: Cognitive Training and Brain Fitness Programs: Interview with Dr. Elkhonon Goldberg As well as our interviews with a number of other leading scientists in this Neuroscience Interview Series. - “Learning is physical. Learning means the modification, growth, and pruning of our neurons, connections–called synapses– and neuronal networks, through experience...When we do so, we are cultivating our own neuronal networks. We become our own gardeners”- Dr. James Zull, Professor of Biology and Biochemistry at Case Western University. Full Interview Notes. [...] […] The Harvard Business Review just published (thanks Catherine!) this article on Cognitive Fitness, by Roderick Gilkey and Clint Kilts. We are happy to see the growing interest on how to maintain healthy and productive brains, from a broadening number of quarters. The article provides a pretty good introduction to general brain research, yet could have gone further in the assessment, training and recommendations sections and given voice to actual neuroscientists (and I can say that because I am not one, but learn much every time I talk to one). In such an emerging field, though, going one step at a time makes sense. The HBR Description of the article: Recent neuroscientific research shows that the health of your brain isn’t, as experts once thought, just the product of childhood experiences and genetics; it reflects your adult choices and experiences as well. Professors Gilkey and Kilts of Emory University’s medical and business schools explain how you can strengthen your brain’s anatomy, neural networks, and cognitive abilities, and prevent functions such as memory from deteriorating as you age. The brain’s alertness is the result of what the authors call cognitive fitness–a state of optimized ability to reason, remember, learn, plan, and adapt. Certain attitudes, lifestyle choices, and exercises enhance cognitive fitness. Mental workouts are the key. Brain-imaging studies indicate that acquiring expertise in areas as diverse as playing a cello, juggling, speaking a foreign language, and driving a taxicab expands your neural systems and makes them more communicative. In other words, you can alter the physical makeup of your brain by learning new skills. The more cognitively fit you are, the better equipped you are to make decisions, solve problems, and deal with stress and change. Cognitive fitness will help you be more open to new ideas and alternative perspectives. It will give you the capacity to change your behavior and realize your goals. You can delay senescence for years and even enjoy a second career. Drawing from the rapidly expanding body of neuroscientific research as well as from well-established research in psychology and other mental health fields, the authors have identified four steps you can take to become cognitively fit: understand how experience makes the brain grow, work hard at play, search for patterns, and seek novelty and innovation. Together these steps capture some of the key opportunities for maintaining an engaged, creative brain. The authors do mention part of the research done by Dr. Elkhonon Goldberg (our co-founder and Chief Scientific Advisor) on pattern-recognition. You will enjoy reading his thoughts directly: Cognitive Training and Brain Fitness Programs: Interview with Dr. Elkhonon Goldberg As well as our interviews with a number of other leading scientists in this Neuroscience Interview Series. — “Learning is physical. Learning means the modification, growth, and pruning of our neurons, connections–called synapses– and neuronal networks, through experience…When we do so, we are cultivating our own neuronal networks. We become our own gardeners”- Dr. James Zull, Professor of Biology and Biochemistry at Case Western University. Full Interview Notes. […]

]]> http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2006/10/12/an-ape-can-do-this-can-we-not/comment-page-1/#comment-71656 » 11 Neuroscience Quotes that Will Change Your Views on "Brain Training"   « Brain Fitness Revolution at SharpBrains      Thu, 06 Sep 2007 19:23:58 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2006/10/12/an-ape-can-do-this-can-we-not/#comment-71656 [...] “Learning is physical. Learning means the modification, growth, and pruning of our neurons, connections–called synapses– and neuronal networks, through experience...When we do so, we are cultivating our own neuronal networks. We become our own gardeners”- Dr. James Zull, Professor of Neurobiology and Biochemistry at Case Western University. Full Interview Notes. [...] […] “Learning is physical. Learning means the modification, growth, and pruning of our neurons, connections–called synapses– and neuronal networks, through experience…When we do so, we are cultivating our own neuronal networks. We become our own gardeners”- Dr. James Zull, Professor of Neurobiology and Biochemistry at Case Western University. Full Interview Notes. […]

]]> http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2006/10/12/an-ape-can-do-this-can-we-not/comment-page-1/#comment-68122 » Feed Your Brain with Fun Neuroscience   « Brain Fitness Revolution at SharpBrains      Sat, 25 Aug 2007 16:42:00 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2006/10/12/an-ape-can-do-this-can-we-not/#comment-68122 [...] “Learning is physical. Learning means the modification, growth, and pruning of our neurons, connections–called synapses– and neuronal networks, through experience...we are cultivating our own neuronal networks.”- Dr. James Zull, Professor of Biology and Biochemistry at Case Western University: Read Interview Notes [...] […] “Learning is physical. Learning means the modification, growth, and pruning of our neurons, connections–called synapses– and neuronal networks, through experience…we are cultivating our own neuronal networks.”- Dr. James Zull, Professor of Biology and Biochemistry at Case Western University: Read Interview Notes […]

]]> http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2006/10/12/an-ape-can-do-this-can-we-not/comment-page-1/#comment-66739 joann Mon, 20 Aug 2007 23:41:10 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2006/10/12/an-ape-can-do-this-can-we-not/#comment-66739 interesting interesting

]]> http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2006/10/12/an-ape-can-do-this-can-we-not/comment-page-1/#comment-62029 » Top Ten Tips for Women Who Lead Men   « Brain Fitness Revolution at SharpBrains      Thu, 02 Aug 2007 18:35:58 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2006/10/12/an-ape-can-do-this-can-we-not/#comment-62029 [...] When we are stubborn, you are entitled to remind us that even apes can learn-if you help us see the point. Show us that change is possible at any age. Believe it or not, we can listen. [...] […] When we are stubborn, you are entitled to remind us that even apes can learn-if you help us see the point. Show us that change is possible at any age. Believe it or not, we can listen. […]

]]> http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2006/10/12/an-ape-can-do-this-can-we-not/comment-page-1/#comment-56381 » Apes, Speedy Learners, and new Brain Fitness Channel   « Brain Fitness Revolution at SharpBrains      Fri, 06 Jul 2007 02:39:54 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2006/10/12/an-ape-can-do-this-can-we-not/#comment-56381 [...] The study tells us that apes really learn in the same way that we do through what researchers call the learning cycle. Dr. James Zull, Professor of Biology and Biochemistry at Case Western University tells in an exciting interview how learning consists of four phases, whether its humans or primates. [...] […] The study tells us that apes really learn in the same way that we do through what researchers call the learning cycle. Dr. James Zull, Professor of Biology and Biochemistry at Case Western University tells in an exciting interview how learning consists of four phases, whether its humans or primates. […]

]]> http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2006/10/12/an-ape-can-do-this-can-we-not/comment-page-1/#comment-56380 » Apes, Speedy Learners, and new Brain Fitness Channel   « Brain Fitness Revolution at SharpBrains      Fri, 06 Jul 2007 02:39:53 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2006/10/12/an-ape-can-do-this-can-we-not/#comment-56380 [...] The study tells us that apes really learn in the same way that we do through what researchers call the learning cycle. Dr. James Zull, Professor of Biology and Biochemistry at Case Western University tells in an exciting interview how learning consists of four phases, whether its humans or primates. [...] […] The study tells us that apes really learn in the same way that we do through what researchers call the learning cycle. Dr. James Zull, Professor of Biology and Biochemistry at Case Western University tells in an exciting interview how learning consists of four phases, whether its humans or primates. […]

]]> http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2006/10/12/an-ape-can-do-this-can-we-not/comment-page-1/#comment-41659 » Encyclopedia of the many Sharp Brains out there   « Brain Fitness Revolution at SharpBrains      Fri, 11 May 2007 05:28:59 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2006/10/12/an-ape-can-do-this-can-we-not/#comment-41659 [...] If you are interested in the biology of learning, you will enjoy our interview with Dr. James Zull, Professor of Biology and Biochemistry at Case Western University, and author of The Art of Changing the Brain: An ape can do this. Can we not?.   Tags: Biodiversity, Biology, Encyclopedia of Life, EO Wilson, Learning, TED [...] […] If you are interested in the biology of learning, you will enjoy our interview with Dr. James Zull, Professor of Biology and Biochemistry at Case Western University, and author of The Art of Changing the Brain: An ape can do this. Can we not?.   Tags: Biodiversity, Biology, Encyclopedia of Life, EO Wilson, Learning, TED […]

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