PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Powers of the Mind

Quarter 1- Module 5

 
   

   
   

POWERS OF THE MIND

This module is developed to let you learn and improve

brain functions. It aims to help you
5.1 discuss that understanding the different parts of the
brain, processes and functions may help in improving thoughts,
behavior and feelings.
5.2 Explore ways on how to improve brain functions for
personal development
5.3 Develop a personal plan to enhance brain functions

There are series of self-assessment tests, reading articles,

activities and evaluations to support you in the lesson. Please read
and answer completely.

In doing this module, the following

are some reminders:
1. Take the pretest before
answering the module.
2. Read the instructions carefully
before doing each task.
3. Answer all the exercises.
4. Take the posttest.
5. Use a separate sheet in
answering all the activities.

1
   
   

Book:
I. Directions: TRUE or FALSE. Write TRUE if the statement is Department of Education, (2016). Personal Development First
correct and FALSE if incorrect.
_____ 1. Drug destroys neurons that make serotonin, a chemi- Edition 2016. Sunshine Interlinks Publishing House, Inc.
cal crucial in controlling sleep, violence, mood swings and sexu- Websites:
al urges. Christy Oglesby, CNNfyi Senior Writer, December 5, 2000 from http://
_____ 2. While medications can reduce the symptoms of stress, edition.cnn.com/fyi/interactive/news/brain/structure.function.html
they do not cure the problem or help you understand the root
cause of the stress, which is key. "Interhemispheric interaction during global-local processing in mathe-
_____ 3. Just like babies, adults can keep growing their brain matically gifted adolescents, average-ability youth, and college stu-
and protect cognitive functioning as they age. dents," Harnam Singh, Ph.D., U.S.
_____ 4. Math giftedness seems to favor girls over boys. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences, and
_____ 5. Learning causes permanent changes in the brain from Michael W. O'Boyle, PhD, University of Melbourne, Australia; Neuro-
birth to adulthood. psychology, Vol. 18, No. 2.
_____ 6. Learning activity develops new connections between Reporters: Michael O'Boyle , from the American Psychological Associa-
neurons, which helps offset cell loss due to aging or disease. tion, available from h
_____ 7. Workshops, conferences, and other gatherings where http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2004/04/interhemispheric.aspx
professionals in their field share their knowledge offer another http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/C7BD7406-040C-42FA-B44C
way to build cognitive function through active learning. 2FCF72EB819C/0/GrowYourIntelligenceArticleandActivity.pdf © 2010
_____ 8. During the first three years of life, the brain experienc- Mindset Works
es most of its growth and develops most of its potential for
Dodd (2004). Learning to Think: Thinking to Learn, http://
learning. aysinalp.edublogs.org/files/2013/09/TheBrainandLearning-1f6e16y.pdf
_____ 9. The size of the brain doesn't increase much after age
six. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/10-ways-to-boost-your-cognitive-
_____ 10. The brain's healthy functioning is essential to living fitness_b_3195153
and determines quality of life. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318139
https://www.personalityquiz.net/profiles/leftrightbrain.html
https://www.mindmapping.com/
II. Multiple Choice. Write the letter of the correct answer on the https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-brain-foods
blank before the number.
_____ 1. It is a graphical technique that mirrors the way the Google images
brain works. It helps to make thinking visible.
A. mind mapping C. brain gym Prepared by:
B. critical thinking D. brain memory
MARIA CRISTINA A. VINLUAN
Teacher II
Bonuan Buquig National High School SHS

2 31
   
   

_____ 8. Why do we need to address depression? _____ 2. Which statement is false?

A. Depressed individuals are more likely to lose his/her A. Steroids cause aggression and violent mood swings.
job.
B. Depressed individuals are more likely to do better in s B. Marijuana use increases memory, learning, judgment
school. and reaction times.
C. Depressed individuals are more likely to become C. Recovery occurs to brains damaged after age 3. The
aggressive. effects of drugs and alcohol on the brain are not lasting.
D. Depressed individuals are more likely to suffer from D. Drug destroys neurons that make serotonin, a chemical
cognitive problems later in life. crucial in controlling sleep, violence, mood swings and sexual
urges.
_____ 9. Why are puzzles useful to the brain?
A. Puzzles are an outstanding way to build new _____ 3. What can you do to get smarter?
connections in the brain. A. Relax
B. Switching from a puzzle that’s easy to a more difficult or B. Take memory pills.
unfamiliar type stimulates new brain activity or learning. C. Watch videos frequently.
C. As you solve a variety of puzzles, your brain has to D. Just like your muscles, exercise and practice your brain.
generate new memories in order to master the new
challenge. _____ 4. At what age does the brain experiences most of its
D. A, B and C growth and develops most of its potential for learning?
A. at birth C. during
adolescence
_____ 10. What can you do to get smarter? B. during school age D. during the
A. Relax. first three years of life
B. Take memory pills.
C. Watch videos frequently. _____ 5. What is the largest of the three brain sections, accounts
D. Just like your muscles, exercise and practice your brain. for about 85 percent of the brain's weight, and has four lobes?
A. neurons C. cerebellum
B. cerebrum D. brain stem

_____ 6. It is the basic functional units of the nervous system,

comprised of a nerve cell body, axon and dendrite, and they
power the rapid-fire process that turns thought into movement.
A. neurons C. cerebellum
B. cerebrum D. brain stem

30 3
   
   

_____ 7. It connects the spinal cord and the brain. It controls _____ 2. Which statement is incorrect?
functions that keep people alive such as breathing, heart rate, A. Drug destroys neurons that make serotonin, a chemical
blood pressure and food digestion. crucial in controlling sleep, violence, mood swings and
A. neurons C. cerebellum sexual urges.
B. cerebrum D. brain stem B. Marijuana use increases memory, learning, judgment
and reaction times.
_____ 8. Why are puzzles useful to the brain? C. Inhalants destroy the outer lining of nerve cells and
A. Puzzles are an outstanding way to build new make them unable to communicate with one another.
connections in the brain. D. Recovery occurs to brains damaged after age
B. Switching from a puzzle that’s easy to a more difficult or
unfamiliar type stimulates new brain activity or learning. _____ 3. It controls voluntary movement and translates your will
C. As you solve a variety of puzzles, your brain has to into action like when you want to lift your fork, wave your hand,
generate new memories in order to master the new etc.
challenge. A. neurons C. cerebellum
D. A, B and C B. cerebrum D. brain stem
_____ 9. Why do we need to address depression? _____ 4. The brain experiences most of its growth and develops
A. Depressed individuals are more likely to lose his/her most of its potential for learning at what age?
job. A. at birth
B. Depressed individuals are more likely to do better in B. during school age
school. C. during adolescence
C. Depressed individuals are more likely to become D. during the first three years of life
aggressive.
D. Depressed individuals are more likely to suffer from _____ 5. What is the largest of the three brain sections, accounts
cognitive problems later in life. for about 85 percent of the brain's weight, and has four lobes?
A. neurons C. cerebellum
_____ 10. It controls voluntary movement and translates your will B. cerebrum D. brain stem
into action like when you want to lift your fork, wave your hand,
etc. _____ 6. It is the basic functional units of the nervous system,
A. neurons C. cerebellum comprised of a nerve cell body, axon and dendrite, and they
B. cerebrum D. brain stem power the rapid-fire process that turns thought into movement.
A. neurons C. cerebellum
B. cerebrum D. brain stem

_____ 7. It is a powerful thinking tool. It is a graphical technique

that mirrors the way the brain works.
A. mind mapping C. brain gym
B. critical thinking D. brain memory

4 29
   
   

Activity: LATERAL THINKING PUZZLES

I. Directions: TRUE or FALSE. Write TRUE if the statement is 1. You are driving down the road in your car on a wild,
correct and FALSE if incorrect. stormy night, when you pass by a bus stop and you see three
_____ 1. Math giftedness seems to favor boys over girls. people waiting for the bus:
_____ 2. Learning causes temporary changes in the brain from a. An old lady who looks as if she is about to die
birth to 6 years old. b. An old friend who once saved your life
_____ 3. Just like babies, adults can keep growing their brain c. The perfect partner you have been dreaming
and protect cognitive functioning as they age. about
_____ 4. Drug destroys neurons that make serotonin, a chemi- Knowing that there can only be one passenger in your car,
cal crucial in controlling sleep, violence, mood swings and sexu- whom would you choose?
al urges. 2. Acting on an anonymous phone call, the police raid a
_____ 5. The size of the brain increases much after age 3. house to arrest a suspected murderer. They don't know what he
_____ 6. During the first three years of life, the brain experienc- looks like but they know his name is John and that he is inside the
es most of its growth and develops most of its potential for house. The police bust in on a carpenter, a lorry driver, a
learning. mechanic and a fireman all playing poker. Without hesitation or
_____ 7. The brain's healthy functioning is essential to living communication of any kind, they immediately arrest the fireman.
and determines quality of life. How do they know they've got their man?
_____ 8. Learning activity develops new connections between 3. A man lives in the penthouse of an apartment building.
neurons, which helps offset cell loss due to aging or disease. Every morning he takes the elevator down to the lobby and leaves
_____ 9. While medications can reduce the symptoms of stress, the building. Upon his return, however, he can only travel halfway
they do not cure the problem or help you understand the root up in the lift and has to walk the rest of the way - unless it's
cause of the stress, which is key. raining. What is the explanation for this?
_____ 10. Workshops, conferences, and other gatherings 4. A man and his son are in a car crash. The father is
where professionals in their field share their knowledge offer killed and the child is taken to hospital gravely injured. When he
another way to build cognitive function through active learning. gets there, the surgeon says, 'I can't operate on this boy - for he is
my son!!!' How can this possibly be?
II. Multiple Choice. Write the letter of the correct answer on the
blank before the number. Note: See self-check for answers.
_____ 1. It connects the spinal cord and the brain. It controls Reading: BRAINPOWER: COMPLEX ORGAN CONTROLS
functions that keep people alive such as breathing, heart rate, YOUR EVERY THOUGHT AND
blood pressure and food digestion. MOVE
A. neurons C. cerebellum How did you get here?
B. cerebrum D. brain stem No, no, no! It's not a question about your conception or
birth.

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How did you get here? On this page. Reading this story.
The answer is a lot more complex than, "My teacher told Mind mapping is a powerful thinking tool. It is a graphical
me to read it" . technique that mirrors the way the brain works, and was invented
The answer involves by Tony Buzan. Mind mapping helps to make thinking visible.
thought, as in "I want to get on
the Internet"; movement like YOU CAN GROW YOUR INTELLIGENCE New research shows
recalling how to use a browser the brain can be developed like a muscle
and word recognition such as
"Brainpower" and an How Do We Know the Brain Can Grow Stronger?
understanding of its meaning. Scientists found out that animals who lived in a
In short, the answer challenging environment, with other animals and toys to play with,
involves a wrinkled and pinkish- were different from animals who lived alone in bare cages. Old
gray, composed of fat and water animals got smarter and developed more connections in their
named brain. brains when they got the chance to play with new toys and other
animals.
The Power To Act The Key to Growing the Brain: Practice! Practice makes the
The brain has three major parts -- the cerebrum, the brain stronger and smarter.
cerebellum and the brain stem. The brain stem connects the
spinal cord and the brain. It controls functions that keep people The Real Truth About “Smart” and “Dumb”. Everything can be
alive such as breathing, blood pressure and food digestion. Those learned. Build up your mind and be smart.
activities occur without any thought. You aren't telling yourself,
"Inhale. Exhale. Inhale." You're just breathing. What Can You Do to Get Smarter? Just like a weightlifter or a
Things are different in the cerebellum. That region basketball player, to be a brain athlete, practicing can make your
controls voluntary movement. When you want to brush your hair brain stronger.
or wink at a cutie, you form the thought and then an area in the
cerebellum translates your will into action so quickly. Ways to Boost Your Cognitive Fitness and Longevity
Neurons, the basic functional units of the nervous system, 1. Exercise to improve cognitive function.
are three-part units and are key to brain function. They are 2. Watch TV and read “actively.”
comprised of a nerve cell body, axon and dendrite, and they 3. Take up a new hobby.
power the rapid-fire process that turns thought into movement. 4. Solve all types of puzzles.
5. Play board games and card games.
6. Visit museums, zoos, and historical sites.
7. Become a student again.
8. Attend workshops.
9. Reduce stress.
10. Address depression.
11. Build your vocabulary

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aggression and violent mood swings.

Drug destroys neurons that make serotonin, a chemical The cerebrum is the largest of the three brain sections
crucial in controlling sleep, violence, mood swings and sexual and has four lobes. The lobes-frontal, parietal, temporal and
urges. occipital -- each have different functions.

THE DOMINANT SIDE OF THE BRAIN The parietal lobe helps people understand what they see
and feel, while the frontal lobe
Left brain individuals are analytical, articulate and to the determines personality and
point. They like identifying details and are more logical than
intuitive. Left brained people have good communication and emotions. Vision functions are
persuasion skills. located in the occipital lobe, and
hearing and word recognition
Right brain individuals are intuitive, creative and abilities are in the temporal lobe.
imaginative. They are flexible and are concerned with the bigger The frontal lobe is a part of the
picture rather than details. They are impulsive and spontaneous brain that control key functions
and do not like time limits. They have difficulty explaining ideas relating to consciousness and
verbally and prefer illustrations to verbal instructions.
communication, memory,
RESEARCH STUDY “THE BRAIN’S LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES attention, and other roles.
SEEM TO WORK TOGETHER BETTER IN MATHEMATICALLY The thought moves as an electrical signal from the nerve
GIFTED MIDDLE-SCHOOL YOUTH”
cell down the axon to a dendrite, which looks like branches at the
Mathematically gifted teens did better than average-ability
teens and college students on tests that required the two halves end of nerve cells. The signal jumps from the end of the dendrite
of the brain to cooperate. on one cell across the space, called a synapse, to the dendrite
In the study, Math giftedness seems to favor boys over of another cell with the help of chemicals called
girls. neurotransmitters. That signal continues jumping from cell to cell
For the average teens and college students, the left brain until it reaches the muscle you need to wink or walk.
hemisphere was faster for local matches and the right brain
hemisphere was faster for global matches.
Average-ability boys and college students were slower on
cooperative trials, which presented letter patterns on both sides of
the screen, the math-gifted showed the opposite pattern.
The study supports the growing notion that the
mathematically gifted are better at relaying and integrating
information between the cerebral hemispheres.
"Testosterone taken later in life will not help your math, as
the window of influence on brain development is pretty much
prenatal. It may enhance muscle mass, but it is unlikely to help
you solve calculus problems."

26 7
   
   

A Critical Age
Because the brain's
healthy functioning is essential
to living and determines quality Reading: BRAINPOWER: COMPLEX ORGAN CONTROLS
of life, doctors emphasize YOUR EVERY THOUGHT AND
protecting the organ from injury MOVE
and chemical abuse. How did you get here?
Researchers say that The answer involves a wrinkled, pinkish-gray, three-pound
brain cells regenerate organ that is primarily composed of fat and water and goes by the
throughout life, but that new name of brain.
growth happens very slowly after
a certain age. The Power To Act
The size of the brain The brain has three major parts -- the cerebrum, the
doesn't increase much after 3. cerebellum and the brain stem.
During the first three years of The brain stem connects the spinal cord and the brain.
life, the brain experiences most of its growth and develops most of The cerebellum controls voluntary movement.
its potential for learning. That's the time frame in which Neurons, the basic functional units of the nervous system,
synaptogenesis, or the creation of pathways for brain cells to comprised of a nerve cell body, axon and dendrite
communicate, occurs. The thought moves as an electrical signal from the nerve
Doctors generally accept that cut-off point for two reasons. cell down the axon to a dendrite, which looks like branches at the
First, in situations where doctors removed parts of the brains of end of nerve cells.
patients younger than 3 to correct disorders, the remaining brain The cerebrum is the largest of the three brain sections,
sections developed to assume accounts for about 85 percent of the brain's weight, and has four
the role of the portions those lobes.
doctors removed. But when The parietal lobe helps people understand what they see
physicians performed the same and feel, while the frontal lobe determines personality and
surgery on older patients, that emotions. Vision functions are located in the occipital lobe, and
adaptability function did not hearing and word recognition abilities are in the temporal lobe.
occur.
Second, we know from
experiments that if you deprive Drug Damage
people of intellectual stimulation Because so little recovery occurs to brains damaged after
and put them in a dark room, that age 3, the effects of drugs and alcohol on the brain might be
it produces permanent changes lasting.
in the brain. That occurs most Inhalants, such as glue, paint, gasoline and aerosols,
dramatically before age 3. After destroy the outer lining of nerve cells and make them unable to
that age, it's impossible to communicate with one another. Marijuana use hinders memory,
ethically do a study. learning, judgment and reaction times, while steroids cause

8 25
   
   

Reading: THE MYTH OF MICHAEL JORDAN

Michael Jordan is one of the best basketball players of all Previous research produced information about the effects
time. His average points per game is the highest in NBA history – of stimulation deprivation, but modern ethical guidelines prohibit
31.5. He is one of two players to score more than 3000 points in a such research on people because of the potentially harmful
single season. And he has 11 MVP awards – five for the regular outcome.  
season and six for the finals.
It was dazzling to watch Jordan play. People often spoke Drug Damage
of his grace on the court. They talked about his natural abilities. Because so little recovery
But the true story is different. When he was a sophomore in high occurs to brains damaged after
school, Michael Jordan didn’t even make the team. “It was age 3, the effects of drugs and
embarrassing not making the team,” he says. “They posted the alcohol on the brain might be
roster [list of players] and it was there for a long, long time without lasting.
my name on it. I remember being really mad, too, because there Doctors know what
was a guy who made it that wasn’t as good as me. ”Someone inhalants, steroids, marijuana,
else might have sulked, or quit. But this setback only fueled cocaine and alcohol do to the
Jordan’s desire to improve. “Whenever I was working out and got brain when people use them. "The
tired and figured I ought to stop, I’d close my eyes and see that question scientists can't answer
list in the locker room without my name on it,” Jordan says, “and now is if the damage is
that usually got me going again.” permanent,. Inhalants, such as
The physical education teacher at Jordan’s high school, glue, paint, gasoline and aerosols,
Ruby Sutton, describes Jordan’s commitment to the game in destroy the outer lining of nerve
those days. “I would normally get to school between 7 and 7:30. cells and make them unable to
Michael would be at school before I would. Every time I’d come in communicate with one another. In 1993, more than 60 young
and open these doors, I’d hear the basketball. Fall, wintertime, people died from sniffing inhalants, according to National Families
summertime. Most mornings I had to run Michael out of the gym.” in Action.
Adapted from “Michael Jordan transcends hoops” by Larry Studies have found that
Schwartz.ESPN.com, 2007. marijuana use hinders memory,
learning, judgment and reaction
times, while steroids cause
aggression and violent mood
swings.
Ecstasy use is rising
among young people and
scientists have found that drug
destroys neurons that make
serotonin, a chemical crucial in
controlling sleep, violence, mood
swings and sexual urges.

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Activity: BRAIN DOMINANCE Attend workshops.

Workshops, conferences, and
Check the characteristics which apply to you. Then look at other gatherings where
the answer key and check to see which characteristics are left professionals in their field share
brain (L) and which right brain (R). Sum them up and discover their knowledge offer another
whether you are left brain or right brain dominant. way to build cognitive function
through active learning. While
___ 1. I am usually late for my appointments. these are commonly offered in a
___ 2. I make gestures with my hands when I talk. person’s profession, you may
___ 3. I usually guess the time correctly. find many others connected with
___ 4. I like to read the instructions when I buy something new. hobbies and personal interests.
___ 5. I often catch myself day dreaming.
___ 6. I find it easier to remember names instead of faces.
___ 7. When someone asks me a question, I turn my head to the Become a student again.
left. Many continuing
___ 8. I like to set goals for myself and organize my time. education courses are available
___ 9. I work better when I listen to my favorite music or radio that do not require being in a
station. degree program — you merely sign up for one or two courses
___ 10. ”Hey, aren't you listening?,” is a question I am frequently whenever you feel like it. Relatively inexpensive courses are
asked. available through community colleges. As a student, you will get
___ 11. I pay attention to what is being said rather than how it is many chances to learn new things, and most instructors will give
said. you tests that will force you to
___ 12. I analyze the pros and cons when making an important recall the information learned.
decision. Nondegree classes are offered in
___ 13. A messy desk is a sign of genius. many areas, from technical
___ 14. When I have many things to do I begin with the easy subjects to local community
ones. history, public speaking,
___ 15. I write my holiday greeting cards early. relationships, poetry and other
___ 16. I approach new tasks by relating them to accomplished friendly topics.
ones.

Analysis: Sum up your responses from the answer key

below. Do not award points for the opposite side if you did not
answer affirmatively to a question. Example, question 13: A
messy desk is a sign of genius. From the answer key below,
question 13 corresponds to 'right brain' or 'R'. If you believe a
messy desk is a sign of genius, award a point for 'R'. You should
not award a point for 'L', if you do not believe that a messy desk is
a sign of genius. Your score shouldn't exceed 8, and could be as
low as 0, for either or both 'R' and 'L'.

10 23
   
   

Solve all types of puzzles.

Puzzles are an Answer key:
outstanding way to build new
1. R  9. R 
connections in the brain. There
are many types of puzzles 2. R  10. R 
other than crosswords. These
include acrostics, cryptograms, 3. L  11. L 
syllacrostics and many other 4. L  12. L 
word-oriented brain teasers.
Some brain teasers don’t 5. R  13. R 
involve words at all, such as
Sudoku. It’s particularly good 5. R  14. L 
for your brain to seek out a 7. R  15. L 
variety. Or start with one type,
and as you get better, switch to 8. L  16. R 
another type of puzzle. Your
brain will be challenged anew
with each particular type of puzzle. Switching from a puzzle that’s Left brain individuals are analytical, articulate and to the
easy to a more difficult or unfamiliar type stimulates new brain point. They like identifying details and are more logical than
activity, or learning, as your brain now has to generate new intuitive. Left brained people have good communication and
memories in order to master the new challenge. persuasion skills.

Build your vocabulary . Right brain individuals are intuitive, creative and
A rich vocabulary has a way of making you sound smart. imaginative. They are flexible and are concerned with the bigger
But did you know you can also turn a quick vocab lesson into a picture rather than details. They are impulsive and spontaneous
stimulating brain game? and do not like time limits. They have difficulty explaining ideas
Research shows that many more verbally and prefer illustrations to verbal instructions.
regions of the brain are involved
in vocabulary tasks, particularly in There is nothing good or bad about either preference. Both
areas that are important for visual orientations can be equally successful in accomplishing a single
and auditory processing. To test task; however, one may be more appropriate over the other
this theory, try this cognitive- depending on the situation.
boosting activity:
 Keep a notebook with Reading: RESEARCH STUDY “THE BRAIN’S LEFT AND
you when you read. RIGHT SIDES SEEM TO WORK TOGETHER BETTER IN
 Write down one MATHEMATICALLY GIFTED MIDDLE-SCHOOL YOUTH”
unfamiliar word, then
look up the definition. Mathematically gifted teens did better than average-ability
 Try to use that word teens and college students on tests that required the two halves
five times the next day. of the brain to cooperate as published by the American

22 11
   
   

Psychological Association (APA). Visit museums, zoos, and historical sites.

In the study, math giftedness seems to favor boys over There are many specialty museums as well as zoos and
girls. It's not known why but historical sites that will
prenatal exposure to help you build better
testosterone is suspected to be cognition. To get the
one influence due to its most out of the visit from
selective benefit to the right half a cognitive standpoint,
of the brain. don’t be a passive visitor.
However, the Read the signage next to
mathematically gifted boys the exhibits, try to repeat
showed no such hemispheric the key information to
differences. The study supports yourself and then do it
the growing notion that the again once or twice
mathematically gifted are better during or after your visit. Not only will you retain what the exhibits
at relaying and integrating were about, but with some occasional recall attempts, you
information between the increase the odds of being able to recall the information months or
cerebral hemispheres. even years later.
The functional (though
not necessarily structural) Address depression.
organization of the brain may Depressed individuals are more
be an important contributor to individual differences in cognitive likely to suffer from cognitive
abilities, talents and, at the very least, information processing problems later in life than those
styles. who are free of depression. As
Various expressions of exceptionality, such as giftedness with stress, many people who are
in math, music or art, may be the by-product of a brain that has depressed merely run to their
functionally organized itself in a qualitatively different way than the family doctor and say, “Can you
usual left/right hemispheric asymmetry. give me something for being
It is not sure whether the findings could apply to math depressed?” and walk away with
education in general. a prescription. No attempt is
Finally, testosterone taken later in life will not help your made to find out what is causing
math, as the window of influence on brain development is pretty the depression in the first place,
much prenatal. let alone cure it. As with stress,
there are ways to bring about a
long-lasting solution to depression
Activity: MIND MAPPING besides medication, including
Mind mapping is a powerful thinking tool. It is a graphical individual counseling, exercise,
technique that mirrors the way the brain works, and was invented spiritual growth, career
by Tony Buzan. Mind mapping helps to make thinking visible. rejuvenation, goal setting, and other techniques.

12 21
   
   

Reduce stress. Most people make notes using lined paper and blue or
People with high amounts black ink. Making notes more attractive to the brain by adding
of stress are more likely to suffer color and rhythm can aid the learning process, and can help to
from cognitive problems than make learning fun. The subject being studied is crystallized in a
those who are free of stress. While central image and the main theme radiates out from the central
medications can reduce the image on branches. Each branch holds a key image or a key
symptoms of stress, they do not
word. Details are then added to the main branches and radiate
cure the problem or help you
understand the root cause of the further out.
stress, which is key. Since many
meds require ever-increasing
dosages to be effective, and many
have side-effects, it is important to
consider reducing stress in more
natural ways, including exercise,
naps, individual counseling,
meditation, relaxing hobbies,
spiritual growth and other means.

Play board games and card

games.
Games that involve
strategy are excellent for the
brain, especially those that
involve puzzle solving or new Mind maps have a wide variety of uses, for example, note
learning of some sort, such as
taking, revision planning, planning for writing and problem solving
Scrabble, Wheel of Fortune,
Jeopardy, and Monopoly— all can all be successfully carried out using the technique. The colors
available in digital form as well. and the graphics used will help children to organize their ideas
Chess and checkers are and thoughts. They can be very simple or, quite detailed
excellent games because depending upon the age of the children and the complexity of the
almost every game is unique, requiring a different set of strategies subject. Because creating the mind map involves the use of the
each time. Card games can similarly help preserve cognitive left and right brain, remembering the information becomes easier!
functioning because the player continues to perfect the most
effective strategies according to the opponent’s playing style.

20 13
   
   

Below is an example of a simple mind map linked to the responsible for memory. One recent study found that the loss of
information above: tissue density in the brain was less in those who were aerobically
fit, which is another way of saying fit people have better cognitive
functioning. Many other studies show that exercise increases
one’s ability to learn, handle stressful situations, make clear
decisions and recall facts and memories.

Watch TV and read “actively.”

Watching TV is cognitively
enriching when it takes effort to
understand what you’re watching,
or sparks questions, ideas or
“aha” moments. The same is true
for reading. Develop new
connections in your brain by
reading something that’s
instructive instead of merely
entertaining. After reading or
watching TV, make yourself recall
How to Make a Mind Map
what you just learned. This
 Think of your general main theme and write that down
exercise boosts retention.
in the center of the page. i.e. Food
 Figure out sub-themes of your main concept and draw Take up a new hobby.
branches to them from the center, beginning to look Increase cognitive enrichment by taking on a new active
like a spider web i.e. Meats, Dairy, Breads pursuit that requires learning, as
 Make sure to use very short phrases or even single opposed to merely attending a
words baseball game or concert. Some
 Add images to invoke thought or get the message examples include: gardening,
across better antiquing, taking up an instrument,
 Try to think of at least two main points for each sub- raising chickens, learning a foreign
theme you created and create branches out to those language or selling items on the
Internet. Read books, talk to
Activity: Make a Mind Map experts, take classes, attend
1. Choose a subject or activity that you do well (for example, conferences or join organizations
math, basketball, playing the guitar, painting, cooking, or related to your hobby. All of this
computer games). learning activity develops new
2. Make a mind map of the chosen topic, following the connections between neurons,
procedure described earlier. which helps offset cell loss due to
3. Explain your mind map and how you worked on it. aging or disease.

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brain in a smarter way—just like a basketball player learns new Reading: YOU CAN GROW YOUR INTELLIGENCE
moves. But many people miss out on the chance to grow a New Research Shows the Brain Can Be Developed Like a Muscle
stronger brain because they think they can’t do it, or that it’s too
hard. It does take work, just like becoming stronger physically or Many people think of the
becoming a better ball player does. Sometimes it even hurts! But brain as a mystery. They don’t
when you feel yourself get better and stronger, all the work is know much about intelligence
worth it! and how it works. When they do
think about what intelligence is,
Ways to Boost Your Cognitive Fitness and Longevity many people believe that a
While many adults do not person is born either smart,
think of developing themselves average, or dumb—and stays
cognitively, they should do so, that way for life. New research
particularly since studies show shows that the brain is more like
that reduced cognitive function a muscle—it changes and gets
can age us prematurely and stronger when you use it. But
reduce life expectancy. People most people don’t know that
who have advanced stages of when they practice and learn new
Alzheimer’s or dementia do not things, parts of their brain change
live as long as those free from and get larger a lot like muscles do when they exercise.
these conditions.
You can be many years When you learn new things, these tiny connections in the
younger by making certain brain actually multiply and get stronger. The more that you
lifestyle choices, including those challenge your mind to learn, the more your brain cells grow.
that tax or challenge the brain. Then, things that you once found very hard or even impossible to
Research over the past 20 years do—like speaking a foreign language or doing algebra—seem to
has shown that certain regions of become easy. The result is a stronger, smarter brain!
the adult brain can generate new
neurons and new synapses. How Do We Know the Brain Can Grow Stronger?
Whenever we learn something Scientists started thinking
new, or even ponder a new that the human brain could
concept, the brain will rewire develop and change when they
itself in response to these studied animals’ brains. They
activities. Here are ten of them. found out that animals who lived
in a challenging environment,
Exercise to improve cognitive with other animals and toys to
function. play with, were different from
Exercise increases blood animals who lived alone in bare
flow to the hippocampus, which cages. While the animals who
is the part of the brain is

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lived alone just ate and slept all smarter. This can happen because learning causes permanent
the time, the ones who lived with changes in the brain from birth to 6 years old. The babies’ brain
different toys and other animals cells get larger and grow new connections between them. These
were always active. They spent new, stronger connections make the child’s brain stronger and
a lot of time figuring out how to smarter, just like a weightlifter’s big muscles make them strong.
use the toys and how to get
along with the other animals. The Real Truth About “Smart” and “Dumb”.
Some people will call a person dumb if they can’t solve
Even old animals got math problems, or spell a
smarter and developed more word right, or read fast—
connections in their brains when even though all these
they got the chance to play with things are learned with
new toys and other animals. practice. At first, no one
When scientists put very old can read or solve
animals in the cage with younger equations. But with
animals and new toys to explore, practice, they can learn to
their brains also grew by about do it. And the more a
10%! person learns, the easier it
gets to learn new things—
The Key to Growing the Brain: Practice! because their brain
From the first day they are born, babies are hearing “muscles” have gotten stronger! The students everyone thinks as
people around them talk—all day, every day, to the baby and to the “smartest” may not have been born any different from anyone
each other. They have to try to make sense of these strange else. But before they started school, they may have started to
sounds and figure out what they practice reading. They had already started to build up their
mean. In a way, babies are “reading muscles.” Then, in the classroom, everyone said, “That’s
exercising their brains by listening the smartest student in the class.” They don’t realize that any of
hard. Later, when they need to tell the other students could learn to
their parents what they want, they do as well if they exercised and
start practicing talking practiced reading as much.
themselves. At first, they just
make “googoo sounds”. Then, What Can You Do to Get
words start coming. And by the Smarter?
time they are three years old, Just like a weightlifter or
most can say whole sentences a basketball player, to be a brain
almost perfectly. Once children athlete, you have to exercise and
learn a language, they don’t practice. By practicing, you make
forget it. The child’s brain has your brain stronger. You also
changed—it has actually gotten learn skills that let you use your

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