Comments on: SmartBrains, Becoming Smarter, and Intelligence http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/08/31/smart-brains-becoming-smarter-and-intelligence/ Brain Fitness and Cognitive Health news Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:44:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: Alvaro http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/08/31/smart-brains-becoming-smarter-and-intelligence/#comment-164313 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 15:47:00 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/08/31/smart-brains-becoming-smarter-and-intelligence/#comment-164313 Good question, Joe :-) It means that, the same way we can "sculpt" our body muscles by exercising them, we will one day be able to ask "I need to sculpt/ build up the area of the brain X in order to improve function Y, what tool should I use? meditation, some software program, work in a specific type of environment?" We will see developing more neurons and stronger synapses as "sculping". Good question, Joe :-)

It means that, the same way we can "sculpt" our body muscles by exercising them, we will one day be able to ask "I need to sculpt/ build up the area of the brain X in order to improve function Y, what tool should I use? meditation, some software program, work in a specific type of environment?"

We will see developing more neurons and stronger synapses as "sculping".

]]> by: Joe Young http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/08/31/smart-brains-becoming-smarter-and-intelligence/#comment-164219 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 04:26:11 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/08/31/smart-brains-becoming-smarter-and-intelligence/#comment-164219 What exactly does it mean to sculpt your own brain What exactly does it mean to sculpt your own brain

]]> by: » Every man can, if he so desires, sculpt his own brain   « Brain Fitness Revolution at SharpBrains      http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/08/31/smart-brains-becoming-smarter-and-intelligence/#comment-72980 Wed, 12 Sep 2007 17:00:39 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/08/31/smart-brains-becoming-smarter-and-intelligence/#comment-72980 [...] For some additional thoughts on sculpting brains, intelligence, and becoming smarter, you can check this post. Learn More about Brain Fitness About Our Seminars Find the Right Program Tags: adult Brain Games, brain, brain exercise software, brain sculptor, cognitive therapy, concentration, health, meditation, memory, Ramon y Cajal [...] [...] For some additional thoughts on sculpting brains, intelligence, and becoming smarter, you can check this post. Learn More about Brain Fitness About Our Seminars Find the Right Program Tags: adult Brain Games, brain, brain exercise software, brain sculptor, cognitive therapy, concentration, health, meditation, memory, Ramon y Cajal [...]

]]> by: » Brain Exercise and Fitness: August Monthly Digest   « Brain Fitness Revolution at SharpBrains      http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/08/31/smart-brains-becoming-smarter-and-intelligence/#comment-70555 Mon, 03 Sep 2007 05:35:53 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/08/31/smart-brains-becoming-smarter-and-intelligence/#comment-70555 [...] Smart Brains, Becoming Smarter, and Intelligence: an essay by David Gamon on what being "smart" means and what happens as we age. [...] [...] Smart Brains, Becoming Smarter, and Intelligence: an essay by David Gamon on what being "smart" means and what happens as we age. [...]

]]> by: John L. Brown http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/08/31/smart-brains-becoming-smarter-and-intelligence/#comment-70490 Mon, 03 Sep 2007 01:28:21 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/08/31/smart-brains-becoming-smarter-and-intelligence/#comment-70490 Hello Alvaro, Thank you for your insightful response. I certainly agree that mindfulness is not THE only key to learning and thinking. Yet I intuit that mindfulness is a grounding principle, absolutely necessary, before one can fully utilize other potential "techniques." What I am suggesting, for consideration, is a hierarchy of learning, natural stages of cognition that evolve in an ideal learning situation. No, I cannot offer proof for this view, but yet, for me, it is common sense. I have not taken the time to define these potential stages, but it seems clear that without mindfulness; being fully aware, awake, and conscious, that learning and thinking cannot proceed to the highest estate that we are seeking. In short, I am suggesting that mindfulness is a necessary prerequisite for authentic learning and thinking. Hello Alvaro, Thank you for your insightful response. I certainly agree that mindfulness is not THE only key to learning and thinking. Yet I intuit that mindfulness is a grounding principle, absolutely necessary, before one can fully utilize other potential "techniques." What I am suggesting, for consideration, is a hierarchy of learning, natural stages of cognition that evolve in an ideal learning situation. No, I cannot offer proof for this view, but yet, for me, it is common sense. I have not taken the time to define these potential stages, but it seems clear that without mindfulness; being fully aware, awake, and conscious, that learning and thinking cannot proceed to the highest estate that we are seeking. In short, I am suggesting that mindfulness is a necessary prerequisite for authentic learning and thinking.

]]> by: Alvaro http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/08/31/smart-brains-becoming-smarter-and-intelligence/#comment-70460 Sun, 02 Sep 2007 22:37:49 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/08/31/smart-brains-becoming-smarter-and-intelligence/#comment-70460 Hello John, Mindfulness is very important. I don't think any single factor is THE key. I like your sentence "learning requires the ability and habit of independent reflection and cognition, and perhaps, courage, as well". One needs both mindfulness to be aware of options and frequent practice of the "flexibility muscle", learning new domains, being able to adapt to a variety of environments. Let's always keep learning! Hello John,

Mindfulness is very important. I don't think any single factor is THE key. I like your sentence "learning requires the ability and habit of independent reflection and cognition, and perhaps, courage, as well". One needs both mindfulness to be aware of options and frequent practice of the "flexibility muscle", learning new domains, being able to adapt to a variety of environments.

Let's always keep learning!

]]> by: John L. Brown http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/08/31/smart-brains-becoming-smarter-and-intelligence/#comment-70248 Sun, 02 Sep 2007 03:43:34 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/08/31/smart-brains-becoming-smarter-and-intelligence/#comment-70248 Mindfulness is the key. A mindset that is truly mindful does not, of necessity, default into old patterns of thinking. Patterns of thinking are not operative, at all. Useful, of course. But not the only bases of thinking and learning. If one relies only on established patterns of thinking it is because they have not achieved mindfulness. What does this mean? Largely, they have subscribed to the conventional;conditional thinking of their peers, and society as well. Therefore, learning requires the ability and habit of independent reflection and cognition, and perhaps, courage, as well. Mindfulness means considering all of the options , even when the conclusions are "certain." Mindfulness implies continuous thinking, reflection, and seeking. This process is not only fundamental to learning, it is in truth, authentic learning. Mindfulness is the key. A mindset that is truly mindful does not, of necessity, default into old patterns of thinking. Patterns of thinking are not operative, at all. Useful, of course. But not the only bases of thinking and learning. If one relies only on established patterns of thinking it is because they have not achieved mindfulness. What does this mean? Largely, they have subscribed to the conventional;conditional thinking of their peers, and society as well. Therefore, learning requires the ability and habit of independent reflection and cognition, and perhaps, courage, as well. Mindfulness means considering all of the options , even when the conclusions are "certain." Mindfulness implies continuous thinking, reflection, and seeking. This process is not only fundamental to learning, it is in truth, authentic learning.

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