sparkmygenius.com

I don’t know about you, but I find the world a little too fast these days. Hectic, frantic, frenzied are other words that come to mind. Juggling too many things? Think multi-tasking is good for you? Think again.

A recent article in the New York Times (“Slow Down, Brave Multitasker, and Don’t Read This in Traffic”) summarizes research on the limits of multitasking.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/25/business/25multi.html?_r=1&ref=health&oref=slogin

Neuroscientists and psychologists have discovered that we benefit from not multitasking so much at work, doing homework, or while driving a car.

The brain cannot concentrate on two things at the same time. Distractions and interruptions hurt our ability to process information. Cognitive scientists are saying that multitasking slows you down and increases mistakes.

Here’s one quick example: It took Microsoft employees who were interrupted by email or instant messaging while writing reports or computer code an average of 15 minutes to return to their work.

What did people do after being interrupted? Things like answering other email or browsing the internet. Sound familiar? It sure does to me.

Here’s another example: Research at Oxford University compared two groups (18-21 years olds versus 35-39 year olds) performance on a simple task. One would think the younger generation, with their iPods, instant messaging, camera phones, etc., would be better at multi-tasking. But not really.

“While the younger group did 10 percent better when not interrupted, when both groups were interrupted by a phone call, a cell phone short-text message, or an instant message, the older group matched the younger group in speed and accuracy.”

The older group, it seems, “…had faster fluid intelligence with which to block out interruptions and choose what to focus on.”

At Sparks of Genius we use a combination of software to train the brain for success to improve cognitive skills. Children and adults can learn to improve attention stamina. They can learn to stay on task and not respond to distractors. The result is an ability to ignore distractions and interruptions, stay on task and successfully complete the task.

“[When I am interrupted,] it sometimes takes me as long as an hour to get back on track.”

At dinner the other night, a friend of mine confirmed the problems of multitasking and has decided to work more at home, where there are fewer interruptions. A brilliant thinker and programmer, he said something like, “It sometimes takes me as long as an hour to get back on track. Not only do I waste time and energy, but multi-tasking is not good for my health. ”

I don’t have time, energy or health to waste. Do you?

Good News: some computer games can slow and even reverse age related mental decline, mild brain damage and mild dementia.

There are many reasons for cognitive decline. According to Dr Robert Werman (Living with an Aging Brain) we start losing brain cells around age 20, and if we make it to 70 will have lost half a billion brain cells. The longer we live the more brain cells we lose. Even though only 1/3 of us will have dementia by the time we are 85, we will all have lost some proper nouns, find it more difficult to multi-task and take longer to learn new information. And we are likely to forget names.

1/3 of us will have dementia by the time we are 85!

Of course, we could also (G-d forbid) have a traumatic brain injury, and we could lose a lot of neurons very quickly.

That is the bad news, and we can all be like a client of mine who called everyone “Honey” or like Jerry Seinfeld who forgot his girlfriend’s name (it rhymes with a female sexual organ.) The good news is that there are things can do to improve our memory including remembering names.

Shankar Vedantam had an excellent article about how mental workouts can slow mental decline (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/19/AR2006121901431.html?referrer=emailarticle)

And at Spark of Genius we have lots of computer games that can slow and even reverse age related mental decline, mild brain damage and mild dementia.

But let’s talk about my favorite, remembering names, my biggest challenge, because I was too shy to do it when I was younger. It reminds me of the joke about the guy who broke his hand and asked the hand surgeon, “Doctor, after you work on me, will I ever be able to play the piano again?” After the doctor reassures him, he says, “That’s great, because I never could play before.”

If there is no good reason to remember someone’s name, make one up.

The first thing to do is to pay attention when you are introduced. There are many cases where we forget names because we never really absorbed them in the first place, and what you don’t learn, you can’t remember. Also, the more you care about the person, the more you are likely to remember the name.  To a point, emotional involvement helps the memory. (When we are in a traumatic situation, emotions actually impair memory.) You are more likely to remember your travel agent’s name because that agent helps to get you the good trips.

If there is no good reason to remember someone’s name, make one up. I like clothes and jewelry, so if I am introduced to someone with a beautiful purple scarf with gold sparkly things, I can remember Henrietta with the scarf.

The more senses you can use (to remember) the better.

It also helps to ask the person how their name is spelled. This works very well for unusual names or for common names that could be spelled in various ways. (Is it Cathy with a C or Kathy with a K?) Then see the name spelled out. You are using two senses here – you are hearing the name and then seeing the name. The more senses you can use the better. If you could write the name on the floor and walk over it, that would help too, but it’s better not to do this in most social situations. This is why dyslexic children trace letters with their fingers or cut them out – they are using more modalities.

I always like to use the name three times in the first conversation. Repetition helps.

Then you want to make an association between the name and something else. For example, if a person’s last name is “Steinberg” see a big stein of beer coming out of an ice berg. Having the images superimposed on each other, dancing with each other or even crashing into each other helps you to remember them.

One final note of caution – I learned all this because names were challenging for me and I’m much better than I was.  But if you ever meet me and I forget your name, please forgive me.

Be well!

-Ninah Kessler

---

Note: Here is a permanent link to the article: http://sparksofgenius.wordpress.com/articles/how-to-remember-names-fend-off-dementia/

We’ve said it all along here at SparksofGenius.com: there are 9 intelligences, and if you want to get smarter you can work on any of them.

Scientists have completed a study that shows that musical training can strengthen your brain and help you interpret sounds better, be it music or speech.

You can read the article here: http://www.livescience.com/humanbiology/070319_music_brainstem.html
How does this all happen?  Neurogenesis!

It doesn’t take much training to make a difference. This is great news for anyone with a Learning Disability, especially Auditory difficulties such as:

1. Auditory Discrimination
2. Auditory Closure
3. Auditory Figure-ground Discrimination
4. Auditory Sequencing
5. Auditory Association and Comprehension

Underachievement in school is a common indicator of a learning disability.  If you, or someone you know, might have challenges in this area, visit www.SparksOfGenius.com and take the 30 Point Learning Assessment.  It’s free and invaluable for uncovering your challenge areas.Be well and good luck!

Allen Dobkin

A recent article in Scientific American asked “What do New Neurons Do?” New neurons? Most of us thought, and still do, that the brain cells we’re born with are with are the same ones we die with. I was taught this as a graduate student in the Sixties.

Not so.

Remarkably, science has shown that new neurons are created as a natural process –– a process called neurogenesis. Scientists then began asking a bigger question: “Can these new brain cells wire themselves into the circuits of our brain?” Again, the answer is “yes.”

R. Douglas Fields, the author of the Scientific American article, reviews research that shows how new neurons can come together and form networks that play a part in making new memories. Although most neurons in our brains do not divide, at least 1% of the neurons are new.

What, if anything, does this have to do with us? Well, we have known for a while about neuroplasticity, the fact that the brain is a wonderfully active, dynamic, flexible and constantly reorganizing system. Now we know that the brain is capable of creating new neurons.

How can you use Neurogenesis to maximize your brain fitness?

1) Seek out new, engaging and challenging things to do. For example, adults and seniors at Sparks of Genius do things like playing computers games to improve memory thinking and attention skills, learning a new language, re-learning an old language, traveling to new places, eating healthier, drawing, dancing, juggling, starting to meditate, increase their spirituality, and find new meaning in their work.

2) Make a conscious effort to do your best in what you choose to do. When to take on a challenging task that you enjoy, it’s not always easy. But when you make the effort, gradually improve, and persist to higher levels of accomplishment and enjoying, you are really exercising your brain and improving your brain fitness.

3) Realize there are many ways to be smart and that you have the ability and the responsibility to unlock your hidden potential. When you went to school two intelligences were probably emphasized – verbal and analytical. If you could read, understand and communicate what you read (mostly through writing), think logically and mathematically, you probably did OK is school.

But there are other intelligences.

Click here to read the rest of the article.

The rise of obesity in America over the passed few years has sent the nation into a health craze. Thanks to new fitness centers opening up with tremendous equipment, Americans are able to give their muscles some serious attention. Meaning people who want to work out the various areas of their body simply go to a bicep machine when they want to work their biceps. The mind works the same way as our muscles in a sense. The problem that is facing the majority of Americans is that they do not know how to strengthen their minds.

The traditional way is to sit and study; if you do not understand you simply spend more time until you reach that spark of genius. The upcoming craze that is making its way across the nation lies within each individual. This is a pursuit that people have been pursuing for hundreds of years. It is the quest for the intelligence of the mind. Sparks of Genius has recently devised a system in which people can work their minds as they work their muscles. Dr. Kessler has a series of programs that has been proven to strengthen the eight intelligences. The purpose of Sparks of Genius programs is not to turn you into a great scientist, mathematicians, or physicist; however, after completion of the program you will have the knowledge of your own ability. Meaning that you yourself will know how you can maximize your learning. You will know the best technique for studying that will work for you. No matter age, ethnicity, or intelligence, Sparks of Genius is here to spark the genius that is inside of every individual.

-Jordan Green

When ABC News Anchor Bob Woodruff entered the news field, he may have had the idea that he could help change the world. He has, though not in a way he might have expected.

Woodruff sustained a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) while covering news in Iraq and has since partially recovered. His story has generated a great deal of interest in TBIs and the great eye of the American Media has focused its attention on what is now being called a Silent Epidemic.

According to a story reported by MSNBC.com (click here), 1.4 million Americans suffer Traumatic Brain Injuries every year—making TBI more common than cardiac arrest. Over 5 million are dealing with long-term TBI disabilities.

Common problems associated with Traumatic Brain Injuries include impaired thinking, attention, memory and judgment. Sparks of Genius’ cognitive training helps to literally rewire the brain and enhance those skills.

TBIs are most often the result of car accidents and explosions. In a separate article (here), MSNBC reports that the damage is not all instantaneous. After the traumatic event, bodily processes that occur can aggravate and expand the effects. Timely treatments could make an enormous difference to victims.

Kim Valentini, the TBI victim highlighted in the article, found significant improvement by undergoing intensive retraining. Sparks of Genius can be an effective part of Traumatic Brain Injury rehabilitation, and has had great success in working with victims of mild Traumatic Brain Injuries (mTBI).

Thank you Mr. Woodruff! You put a face and a family behind TBI. Like Princess Di, who helped focus the world’s attention on the horrors of land mines and the suffering of its victims, you have enlightened us.

If you’re like the rest of us, from time to time you scratch your head and wonder how the car keys wound up in the freezer behind the banana guacamole (thank you George Carlin).

Finally, there’s a little help from Dr. Amy Price. She has a great little article that calls on her experience with mTBI (Mild Traumatic Brain Injury) and memory loss. You may never know why there are seven words you can’t say on television, but at least you’ll be able to find your car keys (and who stole the banana guacamole!?!).

Give it a read here.