Thinking With Brain and Body

Thinking Requires Mind And Body?

Picture talking to your boss at work; your primary goal is to figure out the meaning nof his words and ideas. Wait – your brain is also predicting what he/she is goingnto say next. And you are consciously analyzing the intention of the speaker.

But wait – there is more happening. You are negotiating the order of who speaksnnext, and who listens. There are two other weird things that occur in a conversation:nboth parties tend to use the same speech accent, and both their body movements become coordinated and synchronized.

If you were a fly on the wall, you would notice both parties scratch their nosenat the same time. It is like a tennis match.

Google: Jou
al: Psychological Science 18 (5), 407-413, D.C. Richardson, Aug. 10,
2007.

Eye Movements

If you take away one major idea from this article, let it be that Eye Movement can nimprove problem solving, and clarity of thinking. First, eye movements reflect WHAT we are thinking, and influence HOW we think.

There are strategies (schemas) to direct your eye movements with the result of enhanced ability to solve the problem you are working on. The essence is thatnthe latest neuroscience research demonstrates that eye movement are not justna function of cognition (thinking), but improve how we think and analyze.

Google: Jou
al: Psychonomic Bulletin and Review, August, 2007, Lleras &
Thomas, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

The research proved for the first time that eye movements are actually influencingnbrain power (thinking) with the evidence to prove it. Try this on for size: our brainnuses the same structures (neurocircuits) when we are thinking about doing nsomething (the idea), as you would use to actually accomplishing that task.

The Eyes have it.

The Body Partnership

What does the term Embodied Cognition? When you test your brain on a crosswordnpuzzle, read the same page three times because you just don’t get it, or lose you
car keys, what you do with your body determines how long it takes to solve thenproblem.

There is a difference if you are standing or sitting, pace around the room, ngesture with either or both hands, your facial expression, mind set, and how younmove your eyes.

So what? The latest neuroscientific research offers positive evidence we think andnsolve problems with our brain, with a lot of help from our friend – the body.
Example: elementary students can solve math problem better and faster, if they arentold to use hands to gesture during problem solving.

Here is an example for adults: if you want long-term memory and to persuadenyourself and others of your ideas, Nod your head in confirmation, or Shake you
head to confirm you disagree with the existing beliefs.

Facial expressions indicating agreement or denial, together with gestures of napproval or disapproval, are like an exclamation point in writing and reading.
Call it Body Language with an attitude, but it reinforces you will power to you
ideas.

Embodied Cognition

Body movement and simulation can be as important as reading, writing and recitingnin school. Some scientists are suggesting there is no difference between reason andninstinct, brain is body and vice versa, and thinking is the opposite side of acting.

Embodied thinking means you must check out your body in its environment, in naddition to your brain. Forget – I-Think-Therefore-I Am (Renee Descartes), fornthe more scientific – I-Act-Therefore-I Think. See: < Latin: Ago Ergo Cogito.

Darwin And Evolution

We are hardwired to pursue Pleasure and avoid Pain. Homo sapiens are Rewardnseekers. Did our brains evolve to permit humans to function is various environments?

Our function is to survive (move through) our specific environment and accomplishntwo things: find food and avoid predators. Our prime directive is not to sit behindna computer eight hours daily, nor sit in a school room and listen. We are made to
A-c-t, including reproducing our species.

Google: Shaun Gallagher, University of Central Florida, Cognitive Science Department. What is going on in the brain depends on what is going on in the body as a whole, and how that body is situated in its environment.

Endwords

Would you be more competitive in your career with the skill to read three (3)nbooks, articles and reports in the time your peers can hardly finish one?
How about the skill to double (2x) your long-term memory, while others have difficulty remembering the own address? Finally, are you aware of the stress innyour life, and the affect it has on your health and longevity?

We reside in the Knowledge Economy and that economy is hurting. Those withnpowerful, unique personal skills will survive and thrive. Speed Reading, SpeednMemory, and Stressbusting are three permanent skills to advance your career.

Ask us how.

Speed Read

See ya.nncopyright 2009
H. Bernard Wechsle
www.speedlea
ing.orgnhbw@speedlea
ing.orgntoll-free 1-877-567-2500n-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------n nn