Brain Rules for Thinking Smarter, with John Medina

Brain Rules for Thinking Smarter Guest Speaker: John Medina Hosted By: Alvaro Fernandez SharpBrains Brain Fitness Series June 3 rd , 2008

An Introduction to SharpBrains

Brain Fitness Market Research and Advisory Services: Independent, not affiliated with products/ vendors.

For institutions: Market Research, Consulting and Training Services.

For individuals: Blog and Educational Website

Co-Founded by neuroscientist Elkhonon Goldberg and executive & educator Alvaro Fernandez.

Member of Scientific American Partner Network.

Over 10 scientists, educators, as blog Expert Contributors.

Featured by NYT, US News & World News, Reuters…

Learn more : www.sharpbrains.com

Contact: Alvaro Fernandez at [email_address]

An Introduction to our Webinar Series

#1: “The State of the Brain Fitness Software Market, 2008”

May 27th

#2 : “ Brain Rules for Thinking Smarter ”, with John Medina

June 3rd

#3 : “ The Science and Practice of Brain Fitness ”

June 10th

John Medina and Brain Rules

Dr. John Medina: developmental molecular biologist and research consultant.

Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School (Pear Press, March 2008)

http://www.brainrules.net/

My 3 Key Take-Aways

Rule #1: Don’t hire coach potatoes (Or be one)

Rule #4: Multitask at your peril (and others’)

Rule #8: You have one brain

Rule #1: Exercise boosts brain power.

Best business meeting: walking at about 1.8 miles per hour.

Aerobic exercise improves executive functions. No need to run triathlons.

Exercise improves cognition for two reasons: - Increases oxygen flow into the brain - Acts directly on the molecular machinery of the brain itself

The cognitive value of exercise Source: Colcombe, S and Kramer, AF (2003) Fitness effects on the cognitive function of older adults: a meta-analytic study Psych Sci 14: 125 - 130

Rule #4: We don't pay attention to boring things.

Previous experience and pattern recognition.

Can I eat it? Will it eat me? Can I mate with it? Will it mate with me? Have I seen it before?

Multi-tasking, and our sequential processor. Driving while talking on a cell phone is like driving drunk.

The always online organization is the always unproductive organization. Error rate goes up 50% and it takes you twice as long to do things.

Rule #4: We don't pay attention to boring things.

Rule #8: Stressed brains don't learn the same way.

Stress that lasts about 30 seconds: OK

You can actually watch the brain shrink.

Stress damages cognition.

If you want your kid to get into Harvard, go home and love your spouse.

You have one brain.

Rule #8: Stressed brains don't learn the same way. Mendl M (1999) Performing under pressure: stress and cognitive function Applied Animal Behavioral Science 65(3): 221 - 244

My 3 Key Take-Aways