Comments on: The Overflowing Brain: Most Important Book of 2008 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/12/27/the-overflowing-brain-most-important-book-of-2008/ Brain Fitness and Cognitive Health news Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:59:27 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: April Lightsey http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/12/27/the-overflowing-brain-most-important-book-of-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-260440 April Lightsey Sun, 17 May 2009 13:12:49 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/12/27/the-overflowing-brain-most-important-book-of-2008/#comment-260440 Regarding the proposed link between the Flynn effect (increasing IQ scores) and working memory, I'm skeptical. Just looking at the tests & subtests with the largest gains, there doesn't seem to be much correlation between the increase in scores and the working memory demands of the test. Also, I don't know of research suggesting large increases in working memory in the last 30 or 40 years. We still seem to remember about about 7 items. On the other hand, as commented elsewhere, modern technology may offer meaningful "prostheses" for our working memory, allowing us to juggle more information at once by holding it externally on our desktops and smart phones. In a way, this reminds me of the literature suggesting that illiterate cultures have better long-term memory, suggesting that when literacy made long-term memory less necessary, less cognitive space was accorded to it, perhaps freeing the mind for other kinds of activity. Regarding the proposed link between the Flynn effect (increasing IQ scores) and working memory, I’m skeptical. Just looking at the tests & subtests with the largest gains, there doesn’t seem to be much correlation between the increase in scores and the working memory demands of the test. Also, I don’t know of research suggesting large increases in working memory in the last 30 or 40 years. We still seem to remember about about 7 items. On the other hand, as commented elsewhere, modern technology may offer meaningful “prostheses” for our working memory, allowing us to juggle more information at once by holding it externally on our desktops and smart phones. In a way, this reminds me of the literature suggesting that illiterate cultures have better long-term memory, suggesting that when literacy made long-term memory less necessary, less cognitive space was accorded to it, perhaps freeing the mind for other kinds of activity.

]]> By: marilyn cleland http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/12/27/the-overflowing-brain-most-important-book-of-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-241775 marilyn cleland Tue, 03 Mar 2009 23:02:52 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/12/27/the-overflowing-brain-most-important-book-of-2008/#comment-241775 I wonder whether it is possible to learn something really well -- for instance, playing an instrument -- without the ability to focus and concentrate. I wonder if "fluid intelligence" inhibits focus and attention. I wonder whether it is possible to learn something really well — for instance, playing an instrument — without the ability to focus and concentrate. I wonder if “fluid intelligence” inhibits focus and attention.

]]> By: Ally Ladak http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/12/27/the-overflowing-brain-most-important-book-of-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-232584 Ally Ladak Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:28:58 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/12/27/the-overflowing-brain-most-important-book-of-2008/#comment-232584 Sounds like an interesting book. I look forward to reading the book soon. Sounds like an interesting book.

I look forward to reading the book soon.

]]> By: Wednesday Round Up #48 « Neuroanthropology http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/12/27/the-overflowing-brain-most-important-book-of-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-232071 Wednesday Round Up #48 « Neuroanthropology Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:06:07 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/12/27/the-overflowing-brain-most-important-book-of-2008/#comment-232071 [...] Sharp Brains, The Overflowing Brain: Most Important Book of 2008 The brain fitness site picks its best book of 2008 – how to thrive in a cognitive age [...] [...] Sharp Brains, The Overflowing Brain: Most Important Book of 2008 The brain fitness site picks its best book of 2008 – how to thrive in a cognitive age [...]

]]> By: Alvaro Fernandez http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/12/27/the-overflowing-brain-most-important-book-of-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-229372 Alvaro Fernandez Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:12:38 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/12/27/the-overflowing-brain-most-important-book-of-2008/#comment-229372 Hello Susan, only a neuropsychologist and neurologist may provide a relevant answer to such a specific question regarding your daughter, so I encourage you to consult one. In general, cognitive training is often deployed in the cognitive rehabilitation post-strokes, traumatic brain injury and a variety of so-called "brain disorders". Kind regards Hello Susan, only a neuropsychologist and neurologist may provide a relevant answer to such a specific question regarding your daughter, so I encourage you to consult one. In general, cognitive training is often deployed in the cognitive rehabilitation post-strokes, traumatic brain injury and a variety of so-called “brain disorders”. Kind regards

]]> By: Susan Durnell http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/12/27/the-overflowing-brain-most-important-book-of-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-227372 Susan Durnell Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:29:24 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/12/27/the-overflowing-brain-most-important-book-of-2008/#comment-227372 This is very interesting to me as an aging (aged?) adult. However, I am even more interested in how all this thinking and cognitive research applies to atypical brains. My daughter has a very mild case of holoprosencephaly, accompanied by partial agenesis of the corpus callosum. (Basically, the brain is joined in a spot where it should not be and not joined in a place where it should be.)These anomalies can cause a wide range of effects, but hers now at age 20 are mostly related to learning, memory, and higher-level thinking skills, many of which now seem to be lumped together as "executive functioning." I wonder whether the interventions and methods that work to help neurotypical people could apply to a community college student struggling with these physiological conditions. This is very interesting to me as an aging (aged?) adult. However, I am even more interested in how all this thinking and cognitive research applies to atypical brains. My daughter has a very mild case of holoprosencephaly, accompanied by partial agenesis of the corpus callosum. (Basically, the brain is joined in a spot where it should not be and not joined in a place where it should be.)These anomalies can cause a wide range of effects, but hers now at age 20 are mostly related to learning, memory, and higher-level thinking skills, many of which now seem to be lumped together as “executive functioning.” I wonder whether the interventions and methods that work to help neurotypical people could apply to a community college student struggling with these physiological conditions.

]]> By: Alvaro Fernandez http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/12/27/the-overflowing-brain-most-important-book-of-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-224726 Alvaro Fernandez Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:18:36 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/12/27/the-overflowing-brain-most-important-book-of-2008/#comment-224726 Many good comments here...I do recommend reading the book, which presents a very useful and in-depth discussion on the topic. Many good comments here…I do recommend reading the book, which presents a very useful and in-depth discussion on the topic.

]]> By: mistah charley, ph.d. http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/12/27/the-overflowing-brain-most-important-book-of-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-224692 mistah charley, ph.d. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:39:18 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/12/27/the-overflowing-brain-most-important-book-of-2008/#comment-224692 More on on the negative effect of phoning while driving (whether or not you are holding the phone with your hand)from Steven Yantis, as quoted in Caroline Latham's Nov. 11, 2006 post on this blog: “Directing attention to listening effectively ‘turns down the volume’ on input to the visual parts of the brain. The evidence we have right now strongly suggests that attention is strictly limited - a zero-sum game. When attention is deployed to one modality - say, in this case, talking on a cell phone - it necessarily extracts a cost on another modality - in this case, the visual task of driving.” More on on the negative effect of phoning while driving (whether or not you are holding the phone with your hand)from Steven Yantis, as quoted in Caroline Latham’s Nov. 11, 2006 post on this blog:

“Directing attention to listening effectively ‘turns down the volume’ on input to the visual parts of the brain. The evidence we have right now strongly suggests that attention is strictly limited – a zero-sum game. When attention is deployed to one modality – say, in this case, talking on a cell phone – it necessarily extracts a cost on another modality – in this case, the visual task of driving.”

]]> By: Trevor Watkinson http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/12/27/the-overflowing-brain-most-important-book-of-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-224490 Trevor Watkinson Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:57:29 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/12/27/the-overflowing-brain-most-important-book-of-2008/#comment-224490 I found this article somewhat insightful because I have had trouble lately when typing. I find myself reversing letters within a word. It is usually only two letters that are switched, but I still find it creepy. I think I am pressing the letters in the right order, but look up to find them in the wrong position. I think this may be a result of information overload, or yuppie disease. What do you think? I found this article somewhat insightful because I have had trouble lately when typing. I find myself reversing letters within a word. It is usually only two letters that are switched, but I still find it creepy. I think I am pressing the letters in the right order, but look up to find them in the wrong position. I think this may be a result of information overload, or yuppie disease. What do you think?

]]> By: mistah charley, ph.d. http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/12/27/the-overflowing-brain-most-important-book-of-2008/comment-page-1/#comment-224348 mistah charley, ph.d. Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:16:26 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/12/27/the-overflowing-brain-most-important-book-of-2008/#comment-224348 About "there’s something in the mentally demanding task of telephoning that makes us worse drivers" - One important difference between having a conversation with someone in the car with you, and having a conversation on a cell phone, is what happens when you, the driver, doesn't respond immediately to a question or comment by the conversation partner. A gap of more than a few seconds, if you're on the phone, might mean a dropped call. In person, there is no such worry. Also, someone in the car with you can see if you're changing lanes, making a turn, etc. This means that conversing on the phone has an implicit demand for fluency of response, with the additional drain on cognitive resources that this implies. About “there’s something in the mentally demanding task of telephoning that makes us worse drivers” –

One important difference between having a conversation with someone in the car with you, and having a conversation on a cell phone, is what happens when you, the driver, doesn’t respond immediately to a question or comment by the conversation partner. A gap of more than a few seconds, if you’re on the phone, might mean a dropped call. In person, there is no such worry. Also, someone in the car with you can see if you’re changing lanes, making a turn, etc. This means that conversing on the phone has an implicit demand for fluency of response, with the additional drain on cognitive resources that this implies.

]]>