Out of Our Heads: Why You Are Not Your Brain, and Other Lessons From the Biology of Consciousness
Submitted by Abigail HamiltonThe title of this post is the title of a new book by Alva Noë, an exciting and controversial exploration of the difference between our brains and our minds. From the SF Gate review:
"Consciousness is not something the brain achieves on its own," Noë writes. "Consciousness requires the joint operation of the brain, body and world. ... It is an achievement of the whole animal in its environmental context."
Noë sells this audacious idea with a series of effective metaphors. For instance, he begins the book by comparing consciousness to a dollar bill. He notes that it would be silly to search for the physical correlates of "monetary value." After all, the meaning of money isn't in the paper, or the green ink, or the picture of George Washington. Instead, it exists in the institutions and practices that give the paper meaning. Similarly, our awareness of reality doesn't depend entirely on what's happening inside the brain, but is a side effect of how we, as individuals, interact with the wider world.
Although Noë is a philosopher, his argument is carefully built on scientific evidence, as he considers everything from studies of cells in the visual cortex to examples of neural plasticity. In each instance, he interprets the data in a startlingly original fashion, such as when he uses experiments showing that ferrets can learn to "see" with cells in their auditory cortex as proof that "there isn't anything special about the cells in the so-called visual cortex that makes them visual. Cells in the auditory cortex can be visual just as well. There is no necessary connection between the character of experience and the behavior of certain cells."
Certainly, many of the scientists cited by Noë would disagree with his interpretations, but that's part of what makes this book so important: It's an audacious retelling of the standard story, an exploration of the mind that questions some of our most cherished assumptions about what the mind is.
From biofeedback games to dog days, colleges work hard to defuse student stress during exams
Submitted by Abigail HamiltonAccording to US News and World Report, Colleges are pulling out all the stops to help students beat stress during high-pressure exam weeks. And biofeedback has a place at the table!
This is great news, since intense work and school pressure often make our minds cloudy and disorganized right when we need to perform best — and biofeedback training is a proven way to conquer our stress and move confidently through challenges. By physically, consciously calming our body, we calm our mind as well.
Other great ideas for strss-busting at colleges have been "dog days," during which faculty and staff bring their dogs to campus to play with stressed-out students, prayer events, contra dancing, and midnight breakfasts to raise money for charity.
A lot of the events at colleges stem from open communication between students and school administrators. At Bentley, students asked that special fitness classes, such as fitness and pilates, be offered during finals week. They got them. "We try to listen to what students are telling us in our efforts to help them with stress," says Andrew Shepardson, the school's dean of students.
Brain-fitness games can sharpen mental muscles for all ages
Submitted by Abigail HamiltonTampa Bay Online had a great and detailed look at brain fitness games across all age groups today.
The nice thing about the article is that it talks about what is "marketing hooey" as well as what has been proven to work; we at Somatic Vision are very committed to the success of our games, and the article very much reflected our point of view. Some important excerpts:
"It's similar to going to a health club and deciding you want to work on your biceps or your abdomen," says Alvaro Fernandez, a neuroscientist and co-founder of SharpBrains, an independent science-based clearinghouse that evaluates brain fitness games.
"It's similar to going to a health club and deciding you want to work on your biceps or your abdomen," says Alvaro Fernandez, a neuroscientist and co-founder of SharpBrains, an independent science-based clearinghouse that evaluates brain fitness games.
Brain fitness requires more than memory games and mental stimulation. It also involves nutrition, physical fitness and stress management, Fernandez says. Studies also have shown that socialization is important.
Working adults — Stress management is critical at this busy time of life, but it's an oft-neglected area of brain fitness. Fernandez says the best exercises blend mental challenges with meditation and other calming practices. Even better are ones that offer biofeedback, immediate reads on body functions such as blood pressure and heart rate, so the user can adapt and improve. Finger sensors you wear while playing the game actually help you learn how to relax. Women, in particular, will respond to these stress-busting games, Fernandez says.
Older adults — Teaching an old dog new tricks is critical for older adults who want to get their brains moving, Fernandez says. Computer games are a good choice because older adults aren't as familiar or adept with them as say, crossword puzzles.
BE A SHREWD SHOPPER. People looking to select a book or interactive game aimed at brain fitness should ask: Is the program based on published scientific evidence you can read for yourself? Does it claim to provide specific benefits, and if so, what skill or part of the brain is being exercised? Are you learning something new? Are you challenged, or just being entertained? Does this fit your personal goals and commitment?
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Games that Help
Tropical Heat
Spend ten minutes a day playing relaxing heart rate feedback games to reduce stress, optimize breathing, and improve performance at work.
Alive is terrific for kids and teens. So far I have used it primarily with 11 to 16 year-olds. With other systems, I could never get an accurate heart rate signal from many younger children because they were so wiggly, and I often had to have very short training sessions because of their short attention span. With Alive, these children sit quietly and don't want to stop, even after 55 minutes. To quote one young boy who caught on immediately: "I have to stay calm even when things get hard."
We got a call from the school principal: Our son is doing better! I'm sure that Dual Drive has been a factor in his improvement. I love watching him calm down and breathe.
