Oct 20, 2006
Brain Puzzle for the Whole Brain: The Blind Beggar
By: Caroline Latham
Exercise multiple areas of your brain by trying to answer this riddle:
A blind beggar had a brother who died. What relation was
the blind beggar to the brother who died?
“Brother” is not the answer.
Now, your brain’s turn. What is the answer?
tick tick tick tick…
still working on it? …
Explanation (answer at bottom):
This puzzle is very simply stated and yet stumps those who have not heard it before, because the listener tends to make an implicit assumption about gender – in this case that a blind beggar is a man.
Brain Use:
This puzzle touches on analytical functions like abstract reasoning, hypothesis testing, and implicit assumptions residing in your frontal lobes, as well as your creativity in finding novel solutions to problems and emotional memory.
The brain region most strongly implicated in emotional memory is the amygdala. The amygdala is critically involved in calculating the emotional significance of events, and, through its connection to brain regions dealing with sensory experiences, also appears to be responsible for the influence of emotion on perception – alerting us to notice emotionally significant events even when we’re not paying attention. The amygdala appears to be particularly keyed to negative experiences. But it is not only the amygdala that is involved in this complex interaction. The cerebellum, most strongly associated with motor coordination skills, may also be involved in remembering strong emotions, in particular, in the consolidation of long-term memories of fear. Parts of the prefrontal cortex also appear to be involved. One study found that a region of the prefrontal cortex was jointly influenced by a combination of mood state and cognitive task, but not by either one alone. Another study found that the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is more active when the participants were surprised by unexpected responses.
Links:
Executive function
Executive Function Disorder
Basic Neuroanatomy
Answer:
The blind beggar was the sister of her brother, who died.
Dear Alvaro, this blog is amazing brother! I am a current undergrad student in biopsych and have a blog of my own. I was wondering if you have an email address where I can contact you or if you can just email me and I will reply with the questions. Nice Blog, keep up the geat work!
Ed
Happy Mind – Happy Mood
http://www.happy-mind.blogspot.com
Thanks for the kind words, Ed. In fact this post was written by Caroline-will make a public introduction now. Will shoot you an email.
[...] Solution: please welcome Caroline, our contributing editor of the blog, who started writing last week such good posts as: – Brain Puzzle for the Whole Brain: The Blind Beggar – Nutritional Supplements and Brain Fitness – Visual Perception Brain Teaser – Brain Coach Answers: How Can I Be More Creative? Is Creativity a Part of Brain Fitness? – Social Intelligence and Mirror Neurons – Social Intelligence and the Frontal Lobes – More Weight, Less Memory – Connections Between Physical and Brain Fitness – Brain Yoga: Stress — Killing You Softly – Brain Coach Answers: Aren’t crosswords and sudoku sufficient brain exercise? [...]
This is the first time visiting this site and it is truly blowing my mind. I love it.
[...] Solution: please welcome Caroline, our contributing editor of the blog, who started writing last week such good posts as: – Today’s great Brain Puzzle for the Whole Brain: The Blind Beggar – Nutritional Supplements and Brain Fitness – Visual Perception Brain Teaser – Brain Coach Answers: How Can I Be More Creative? Is Creativity a Part of Brain Fitness? – Social Intelligence and Mirror Neurons – Social Intelligence and the Frontal Lobes – More Weight, Less Memory – Connections Between Physical and Brain Fitness – Brain Yoga: Stress — Killing You Softly – Brain Coach Answers: Aren’t crosswords and sudoku sufficient brain exercise? [...]
Joanne,
We’re so glad you like our blog! Our goal is that you both have fun and learn something along the way, so feel free to send us feedback anytime! Also, please note that we have now moved to http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog. Come visit us in our new location!
-Caroline
[...] 8. Brain Puzzle for the Whole Brain: The Blind Beggar [...]
I got this because I’d learned from the doctor who can’t operate on a family member. Does this mean I didn’t exercise my brain this time?
Reusing information still uses your brain (essentially you’re “practicing” something you already know), but the amount and pattern of neurons used is different when you already know something. To see what I mean, look at the picture here. As the information gets more routine, your brain becomes more efficient and exercises fewer neurons. Hence, we suggest “stretching practice” which means practicing cognitive skills, but always trying a slightly more challenging problem to ensure you engage as much of your brain as possible. This is also why computer-based brain workouts are more effective than an assortment of recreational activities. The software can keep pushing you a little more each time, even while exercising the same cognitive skills.
I thought sibling would be correct answer to Blind Beggar.
I cannot figure out how it is sister, can you please help?
Greg, you are right that “sibling” is a correct response, but it is not specific enough to be the answer. The hint tells you that “brother” is not the answer. So, the only other sibling left is a sister. Hope you enjoyed the puzzle!
The “hint” isn’t a hint. It’s a new constraint. I.e., it’s part of the problem.
So I don’t like the wording of this problem.
David,
Good point. I removed the “hint” and made it part of the puzzle. The original goal was to get you thinking about it, and then provide more information, but I see your point. Thanks for the feedback!
In Arabic the verbs and pronouns are different for both female and male. which made this test not easy for me
Hi Zizo, that’s good for you-you exercised your brain more than the rest of us
[...] A blind beggar had a brother who died. What relation was the blind beggar to the brother who died? “Brother” is not the answer. — riddle [...]
` I fail to see how this is a puzzle – I got the answer in less than a second.
So you mean that, for you, seeing how this is a puzzle is a puzzle itself?
What is your guess?
Hmmm, I thought maybe they were monks? Brothers in a non-blood-relation sense?
Hello Jenn, that is a good observation, but if you follow the line of thought you’d have to say that the blind beggar is a brother too…and the problem states that is not the case.
[...] 15. Brain Puzzle for the Whole Brain: The Blind Beggar. [...]
[...] A blind beggar had a brother who died. What relation was the blind beggar to the brother who died? “Brother” is not the answer. — riddle [...]
Sister – The Blind Begger is a woman
Sibling is the correct answer.
Hey, I am a 12 year old student. My dad showed me this riddle, and i was confused. I thought about it for a couple minutes, still i didnt get it! {laughs) Finally, I got the answer…by scrolling down!!
Hello Tina! thanks for visiting our website, and trying to solve the riddle. That was very good for your brain…and you will do better next time
haha. i was thinking “survivor”. yap, , the dead brother had a blind sister…
i am 13 and this was an easy riddle
Hello Miranda and Janice, thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoy the other teasers as well!
I thought “alive”..lol but see you you got sister..
Love this brain stuff
glad to hear that
wow, assumption is a powerful thing. we all do it and as a result many bias, discriminations and prejudices are formed.
The beggar is obviously the sister
good job-and welcome!
There is a similar riddle that I heard a number of years ago that reminded me of and helped me with this one: A man and his son are in a car accident and both rushed to the hospital with serious injuries. The doctor who is about to operate on the son says, “I can’t operate on this boy; he is my son.” How is this possible?
Hello Rhiannon, that’s a good one. I’ll post it on its own-and we can post the answer, say, by Monday.
THIS RIDDLE REALLY HAD ME THINKING LOL
Just found this great page! I am at my first year as a math teacher (grade 1-6) and have found a lot of interesting information and things to try out! Thanks very much for all your work
Glad to hear, Lisbeth! Feel free to share with us good teasers and exercises you may find.
rhannon
i know that one the answer is…………..
the doctor was his mother
i like this type of teaser, and I’m looking forward in seeing more of this!
It’s actually my first time to visit and I instantly got hooked. great blog!
well… i thought for about 10 secs… and then i got it
I’m 16..
hmm…I don’t really get this. Why couldn’t the begger be a man? If he was a man, he could still have a Brother..?
Sister
sister
The correct answer should be – sibling.
There is no evidence of gender.